85-594: A hobo is homeless in the United States. Hoboes, tramps , and bums are generally regarded as related, but distinct: a hobo travels and is willing to work; a tramp travels, but avoids work if possible; a bum neither travels nor works. The origin of the term is unknown. According to etymologist Anatoly Liberman , the only certain detail about its origin is the word was first noticed in American English circa 1890. The term has also been dated to 1889 in
170-544: A University of Chicago master's thesis, wrote in 1932, Another merit of the book [Godfrey Irwin's 1931 American Tramp and Underworld Slang ] is that the author has not subscribed to the fiction that American tramps have a sign language, as so many professors are wont to believe. Though newspapers in the early and peak days of hoboing (1870s through the Depression ) printed photos and drawings of hoboes leaving these signs, these may have been staged in order to add color to
255-514: A satirical tongue-in-cheek almanac that contains almost no factual information, was published in 2005. His second book, More Information Than You Require , went on sale October 21, 2008. His third book, That Is All , went on sale November 1, 2011. Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches , a collection of "real life wanderings" about Hodgman's life experiences (especially in Western Massachusetts and coastal Maine),
340-548: A stand-alone podcast produced by Maximum Fun . Hodgman was a guest alongside Jonathan Coulton on episodes of You Look Nice Today . Hodgman was a guest on This Week In Tech with Leo Laporte , Stuff You Should Know , the Doughboys podcast with Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger , and has been featured on the podcast Boing Boing TV . Hodgman appeared in person and on the NPR radio broadcast of City Arts and Lectures , in
425-457: A " Netflix Original ". The special featured material from Hodgman's most recent book, That Is All , and his December 21, 2012, show at The Bell House in New York. In 2010, Hodgman began hosting a weekly, comedic court show podcast called Judge John Hodgman . The program features Hodgman acting as a judge (with Jesse Thorn as bailiff ) adjudicating real-life disputes within
510-417: A "stiff" or his monica. And more than once I have been able to give the monica of recent date, the water-tank, and the direction in which he was then bound. And promptly the hobo to whom I gave the information lit out after his pal. I have met hoboes who, in trying to catch a pal, had pursued clear across the continent and back again, and were still going. The use of monikers persists to this day, although since
595-525: A Former Professional Literary Agent" at McSweeney's Internet Tendency. Hodgman appeared on The Daily Show on November 16, 2005, to promote his book, The Areas of My Expertise . Host Jon Stewart described the book as "very funny" and said that the section on hobo names in particular was written with "a certain kind of genius." Hodgman has returned to the Daily Show numerous times for "resident expert" interview segments, and has been listed on
680-559: A Mac " advertising campaign , and for his work as a contributor on Comedy Central 's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart . His writings have been published in One Story (to which he contributed the debut story " Villanova "), The Paris Review , McSweeney's Quarterly Concern , Wired and The New York Times Magazine . He has also contributed to This American Life , CBC Radio One , and Wiretap . His first book and accompanying audio narration, The Areas of My Expertise ,
765-523: A Mac user in 1984. On November 10, 2020, he made a surprise brief appearance at the 45:27 mark of Apple's virtual "One More Thing" event, where Apple unveiled its first Macs based on its own Apple silicon chips. In 2007, Hodgman appeared in the " Bowie " episode of the HBO television series Flight of the Conchords . He played the manager of a musical greeting card company who was considering using one of
850-453: A Super-Tramp , lost a foot when he fell under the wheels trying to jump aboard a train. It was easy to get trapped between cars, and one could freeze to death in cold weather. When freezer cars were loaded at an ice factory, any hobo inside was likely to be killed. Around the end of World War II , railroads began to move from steam to diesel locomotives, making jumping freight trains more difficult. This, along with postwar prosperity, led to
935-538: A decline in the number of hoboes. In the 1970s and 1980s hobo numbers were augmented by returning Vietnam War veterans, many of whom were disillusioned with settled society . Overall, the national economic demand for a mobile surplus labor force has declined over time, leading to fewer hoboes. Hoboes were noted for, among other things, the distinctive lingo that arose among them. Some examples follow: Many hobo terms have become part of common language, such as "big house", "glad rags", "main drag", and others. Almost from
SECTION 10
#17327803168631020-428: A fictional courtroom setting. The cases answer questions like, "Should the kitchen sink's built-in dispenser be filled with dish soap or hand soap?" and "Can you stop family members from using your childhood nickname?" Hodgman teamed with fellow humorist David Rees to create the adult animated show Dicktown , which premiered in 2020. As of 2024, the show is in its second season and airs on FXX and Hulu . The show
1105-519: A fifteen percent citywide decrease in total rental units, and a seven percent increase in citywide rents. Lack of jobs that pay living wages , lack of affordable housing , and lack of health and social services can lead to poverty and homelessness. Factors that can lead to economic struggle include neighborhood gentrification (as previously discussed), job loss, debt, loss of money or assets due to divorce, death of breadwinning spouse, being denied jobs due to discrimination, and many others. Moreover,
1190-631: A human right. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter addressed this issue in a 2017 interview, saying, "A lot of people don't look at housing as a human right, but it is." His view contrasts with many Americans who do not believe housing is a basic human right. Many homeless enumeration studies published in the 2010s and onward utilize the term unsheltered homeless . The common colloquial term " street people " does not fully encompass all unsheltered people, in that many such persons do not spend their time in urban street environments. Many shun such locales, because homeless people in urban environments may face
1275-706: A nurse and educator, and John Francis Hodgman, the President and CEO of the Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation and a professor at Tufts University . He attended the Heath School and Brookline High School , where he edited the underground magazine Samizdat , named for the grassroots dissident publishing movement produced under the Soviet Bloc. During his last year of high school, he hosted
1360-431: A small effect on shelter and street populations. This is largely due to rent control reducing the quality and quantity of housing. For example, a 2019 study found that San Francisco's rent control laws reduced tenant displacement from rent-controlled units in the short-term, but resulted in landlords removing thirty percent of the rent-controlled units from the rental market, (by conversion to condos or TICs ) which led to
1445-640: A song called "Furry Old Lobster." Also, on October 18, 2008, Hodgman appeared again on Attack of the Show to talk about his newest book, More Information Than You Require. Hodgman appeared in the North American Get a Mac advertising campaign for Apple Inc. , which ran from May 2006 through 2010. In the ads he plays the personification of a PC alongside his Mac counterpart, played by actor Justin Long . In reality, however, Hodgman himself became
1530-441: A writer or writers seeking to add to the folklore surrounding hoboes soon after they acquired the name, an invention perpetuated and embellished by others over the years, aided occasionally by amenable hoboes themselves. Several hoboes during the days that the signs were reportedly most in use asserted that they were in fact a "popular fancy" or "a fabrication". Nels Anderson , who both hoboed himself and studied hoboes extensively for
1615-496: Is closely connected to declines in physical and mental health. Most people who use homeless shelters frequently, face multiple disadvantages, such as the increased prevalence of physical and mental health problems, disabilities, addiction, poverty, and discrimination . Studies show that preventive and primary care (which homeless people are not receiving) substantially lower overall healthcare costs. In terms of providing adequate treatment to homeless people for their mental illness,
1700-630: Is indeed an environment in which males have far greater power (O'Grady and Gaietz, 2004)." Women on the street are often motivated to gain capital through affiliation and relationships with men, rather than facing homelessness alone. Within these relationships, women are still likely to be physically and sexually abused. Social exclusion related to sexual orientation , gender identity or expression , or sex characteristics can also attribute to homelessness based on discrimination. Relationship breakdown, particularly with young people and their parents, such as disownment due to sexuality or gender identity
1785-467: Is one example. John Hodgman John Kellogg Hodgman (born June 3, 1971) is an American author, actor, and humorist. In addition to his published written works, such as his satirical trilogy The Areas of My Expertise , More Information Than You Require , and That Is All , he is known for his personification of a PC in contrast to Justin Long 's personification of a Mac in Apple's " Get
SECTION 20
#17327803168631870-931: Is the National Hobo Convention held in Britt, Iowa . The town first hosted the Convention in 1900, but there followed a hiatus of thirty-three years. Since 1934 the convention has been held annually in Britt, on the second weekend in August. Examples of characters based on hoboes include: Musicians known for hobo songs include: Tim Barry , Baby Gramps , Railroad Earth , Harry McClintock , Ramblin' Jack Elliott , Utah Phillips , Jimmie Rodgers , Seasick Steve , and Boxcar Willie . Examples of hobo songs include: Homeless Homelessness , also known as houselessness or being unhoused or unsheltered ,
1955-493: Is the bum , who neither works nor travels, save when impelled to motion by the police. While there have been drifters in every society, the term became common only after the broad adoption of railroads provided free, though illegal, travel by hopping aboard train cars . With the end of the American Civil War in the 1860s, many discharged veterans returning home began to hop freight trains. Others looking for work on
2040-437: Is the condition of lacking stable, safe, and functional housing . It includes living on the streets , moving between temporary accommodation with family or friends, living in boarding houses with no security of tenure, and people who leave their homes because of civil conflict and are refugees within their country. The legal status of homeless people varies from place to place. Homeless enumeration studies conducted by
2125-625: Is widespread among homeless people and, for around 70 percent of respondents, can be attributed to a time "before the onset of homelessness" Lack of housing serves as a social determinant of mental health . Being afflicted with a mental disorder , including substance use disorders , where mental health services are unavailable or difficult to access can also drive homelessness for the same reasons as disabilities. A United States federal survey in 2005 indicated that at least one-third of homeless men and women had serious psychiatric disorders or problems. Autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia are
2210-742: Is written, directed and executive produced by Hodgman and Rees; Matt Thompson also executive produces. Dicktown follows the story of detective John Hunchman and his sidekick David Purefoy (voiced by Hodgman and Rees respectively). Hodgman has been a guest on radio programs including WBEZ 's This American Life , and The Sound of Young America , My Brother, My Brother and Me , [2] WFMU 's The Best Show on WFMU , NPR 's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me , North Carolina Public Radio 's The State of Things , Live Wire Radio (Episode 374), and BBC's Museum of Curiosity. Hodgman has been featured on podcasts including occasional appearances as "Judge John Hodgman" on Jordan, Jesse, Go! which led to
2295-468: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 , part of which addressed homelessness prevention, allocating $ 1.5 billion for a Homeless Prevention Fund. The Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) program's name was changed to Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) program, and funds were reallocated to assist with homeless prevention and rapid re-housing for families and individuals. In January 2024
2380-562: The American frontier followed the railways west aboard freight trains in the late 19th century. In 1906, Professor Layal Shafee, after an exhaustive study, put the number of tramps in the United States at about 500,000 (about 0.6% of the US population at the time). His article "What Tramps Cost Nation" was published by The New York Telegraph in 1911, when he estimated the number had surged to 700,000. The number of hoboes increased greatly during
2465-634: The Antebellum South , the availability of enslaved labor made it difficult for poor white people to find work. To prevent them from cooperating with enslaved black people, slaveowners policed poor whites with vagrancy laws. After the American Civil War , a large number (by the hundreds or thousands) of homeless men formed part of a counterculture known as "hobohemia" all over the United States. In smaller towns, hobos temporarily lived near train tracks and hopped onto trains to various destinations. The growing movement toward social concern sparked
2550-518: The BBC 's intellectual comedy quiz shown on BBC America , Hodgman was invited to appear on the show. He was the first “fifth panelist" on the program broadcast December 3, 2009 (the usual line-up being Stephen Fry as host, Alan Davies as regular panelist and three guests)—and won, continuing the tradition of a guest winning their "rookie" appearance on the show. In 2012, Hodgman guest-starred in an episode of Delocated called "Reunion Show," acting as
2635-528: The Cinemax series The Knick . In 2016, Hodgman played the role of Travis, a local television station manager, in four episodes of the second season of Amazon's Red Oaks series. In November 2017, Hodgman was named one of Portland Magazine's "10 Most Intriguing Mainers." Netflix , the American streaming media website, aired the comedy special John Hodgman: Ragnarok on June 20, 2013, as
Hobo - Misplaced Pages Continue
2720-643: The Conservative administration's Rough Sleeper Initiative, the number of people sleeping rough in London fell dramatically. This initiative was supported further by the incoming Labour administration from 2009 onwards with the publication of the 'Coming in from the Cold' strategy published by the Rough Sleepers Unit, which proposed and delivered a massive increase in the number of hostel bed spaces in
2805-479: The Great Depression era of the 1930s. With no work and no prospects at home, many decided to try their luck elsewhere by freight train. Hobo life was dangerous. Itinerant, poor, far from home and support, hoboes also faced the hostility of many train crews and the railroad police , nicknamed "bulls", who often dealt violently with trespassers. British poet W. H. Davies , author of The Autobiography of
2890-804: The Steamtown National Historic Site at Scranton, Pennsylvania , operated by the National Park Service , and in the National Cryptologic Museum in Annapolis Junction, Maryland , and Webster's Third New International Dictionary supplies a listing of hobo signs under the entry for "hobo". Despite an apparently strong record of authentication, however, there is doubt as to whether hobo signs were ever actually in practical use by hoboes. They may simply have been invented early on by
2975-602: The United States Supreme Court agreed to make a decision on whether city laws that punish individuals to limit the growth of homeless encampments are in violation of the Constitution's limits for cruel and unusual punishment . In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling, permitted U.S. cities to criminalize homeless camps, thus making it possible to jail people for sleeping in areas such as public parks. On October 3, 2024, Florida passed
3060-799: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights , adopted 10 December 1948 by the UN General Assembly, contains this text regarding housing and quality of living: 1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. 2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy
3145-701: The Western —probably Northwestern — United States , and to 1888. Liberman points out that many folk etymologies fail to answer the question: "Why did the word become widely known in California (just there) by the early Nineties (just then)?" Author Todd DePastino mentions possible derivations from " hoe -boy", meaning "farmhand", or a greeting "Ho, boy", but that he does not find these convincing. Bill Bryson suggests in Made in America (1998) that it might come from
3230-471: The convicts transported to the American colonies in the 18th century. During the 16th century in England , the state first tried to give housing to vagrants instead of punishing them, by introducing bridewells to take vagrants and train them for a profession. In the 17th and 18th centuries, these were replaced by workhouses but these were intended to discourage too much reliance on state help. In
3315-631: The government of the United States also include people who sleep in a public or private place that is not designed for use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. Homelessness and poverty are interrelated. There is no standardized method for counting homeless individuals and identifying their needs; consequently, most cities only have estimated figures for their homeless populations. In 2024, an estimated 150 million people worldwide were homeless, and as many as 1.6 billion people live as squatters , refugees , or in temporary shelters. Unhoused persons who travel have been termed vagrants in
3400-541: The railroad greeting, "Ho, beau!" or a syllabic abbreviation of "homeward bound". It could also come from the words "homeless boy" or "homeless Bohemian ". H. L. Mencken , in his The American Language (4th ed., 1937), wrote: Tramps and hobos are commonly lumped together, but in their own sight they are sharply differentiated. A hobo or bo is simply a migratory laborer; he may take some longish holidays, but soon or late he returns to work. A tramp never works if it can be avoided; he simply travels. Lower than either
3485-619: The 1990s, many were forced to leave the country in search of employment elsewhere. Many of them became illegal immigrants, seeking asylum in China, South Korea or other nearby countries. Families that made it to China were often separated, in some cases children even fled North Korea on their own. These orphaned North Korean homeless children living in China are called the Kotjebi . In 2001, the Scottish Parliament came into place. It
Hobo - Misplaced Pages Continue
3570-575: The Depression, and continue to turn up in American popular culture; for example, John Hodgman 's book The Areas of My Expertise features a section on hobo signs listing signs found in newspapers of the day as well as several whimsical ones invented by Hodgman, and the Free Art and Technology Lab released a QR Hobo Code, with a QR stenciler, in July 2011. Displays on hobo signs have been exhibited in
3655-706: The HB 1365 law that prohibits counties from allowing public camping or sleeping on public property without certification of designated public property by DCF according to the Florida Senate. Major reasons for homelessness include: Gentrification is a process in which a formerly inexpensive neighborhood becomes more popular with wealthier people, increasing residential house prices and forcing poorer residents out. Gentrification may cause or influence evictions, foreclosures, and rent regulation. Increased wealth disparity and income inequality cause distortions in
3740-768: The Other Half Lives and Jack London 's The People of the Abyss (1903) discussed homelessness and raised public awareness, which caused some changes in building codes and social conditions. In England, dormitory housing called "spikes" was provided by local boroughs. By the 1930s in England, 30,000 people were living in these facilities. In 1933, George Orwell wrote about poverty in London and Paris, in his book Down and Out in Paris and London . In general, in most countries, many towns and cities had an area that contained
3825-453: The U.S. Nonetheless, the ethics of hobo culture can be regarded as fairly coherent and internally consistent, at least to the extent that any culture's various individual people maintain the same ethical standards. That is to say, any attempt at an exhaustive enumeration of hobo ethics is bound to be foiled at least to some extent by the diversity of hoboes and their ideas of the world. This difficulty has not kept hoboes themselves from attempting
3910-499: The absence of accessible healthcare and social services further compounds the economic struggle for many. Inadequate healthcare can lead to untreated illnesses, making it more demanding for certain individuals to maintain employment, perpetuating a continuous cycle of poverty. Social services, including mental health support and addiction treatment, are essential for addressing the root causes of economic hardship. However, limited access to these services leaves vulnerable populations without
3995-456: The band while in the role of The Deranged Millionaire up to May 16, 2007. Hodgman appeared again with They Might Be Giants on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson , on December 11, 2009. Hodgman performed the spoken-word portions of the song " Why Does the Sun Shine? " In February 2006, Hodgman appeared on Attack of the Show , a show that aired daily on G4 , to share some insight with
4080-425: The band's songs for a greeting card. On October 1, 2008, Boing Boing ' s Xeni Jardin announced the official debut of the web series SPAMasterpiece Theater . Hodgman himself described it as "true tale[s] of romance, adventure, infamy, and low-cost prescription drugs, all culled from the reams of actual, unsolicited emails, received here by us and people like you – what we call SPAM." Hodgman appeared in
4165-458: The beginning of the existence of hoboes, as early as the 1870s, it was reported that they communicated with each other by way of a system of cryptic "hobo signs", which would be chalked in prominent or relevant places to clandestinely alert future hoboes about important local information. Many listings of these symbols have been made. A few symbols include: Reports of hoboes using these symbols appeared in newspapers and popular books straight through
4250-404: The best solution to a loan default is to take and sell the house to pay off the debt can leave people homeless. Foreclosures on landlords often lead to the eviction of their tenants. "The Sarasota, Florida, Herald Tribune noted that, by some estimates, more than 311,000 tenants nationwide have been evicted from homes this year after lenders took over the properties." Rent regulation also has
4335-479: The capital and an increase in funding for street outreach teams, who work with rough sleepers to enable them to access services. Scotland saw a slightly different picture, with the impact of the right to buy ending in a significant drop in available social housing. The 1980s and the 1990s resulted in an ever-increasing picture of people becoming homeless. Due to economic crisis and famine in North Korea in
SECTION 50
#17327803168634420-578: The care process. Homelessness has migrated toward rural and suburban areas. Although the number of homeless people has not changed dramatically, the number of homeless families has increased according to a report by HUD . The United States Congress appropriated $ 25 million in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants for 2008 to show the effectiveness of Rapid Re-housing programs in reducing family homelessness. In February 2009, President Obama signed
4505-439: The demographics of homelessness. The experiences of homeless women and women in poverty are often overlooked, however, they experience specific gender-based victimization. As individuals with little to no physical or material capital, homeless women are particularly targeted by male law enforcement, and men living on the street. It has been found that "street-based homelessness dominates mainstream understanding of homelessness and it
4590-625: The development of rescue missions, such as the U.S. first rescue mission, the New York City Rescue Mission , founded in 1872 by Jerry and Maria McAuley . The U.S. Great Depression of the 1930s caused an epidemic of poverty, hunger, and homelessness in the United States. When Franklin D. Roosevelt took over the presidency from Herbert Hoover in 1933, he signed the New Deal , which expanded social welfare, including providing funds to build public housing. How
4675-482: The episode " No Exit " of Battlestar Galactica , appearing as the civilian neurosurgeon, Dr. Gerard. He had earlier visited the set in 2005 to write about the show for The New York Times Magazine . On June 19, 2009, Hodgman was the headline speaker at the 2009 Radio and Television Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C. Hodgman referred to this event as a "Nerd Prom." Many of his jokes were on
4760-640: The episode "Anniversaries" of Parks and Recreation , which aired in February 2014. Hodgman has a supporting role in the FX comedy Married , which premiered in July 2014. In December 2014, Hodgman appeared in three episodes of the Amazon Studios series Mozart in the Jungle . In 2014–2015, Hodgman appeared for three episodes as a fictionalized version of psychiatrist and medical doctor Henry Cotton on
4845-586: The episode "Self-Medication" as Dale Hale, an ex-boy detective in therapy following the death of his father. He has since had multiple appearances in Season 5 as O.S.I. operative Snoopy, along with other roles. Also, during the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards in September 2009, Hodgman provided color commentary with made-up trivia about the winners. He reprised this role for the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards in August 2010. Because of his continuing support for QI ,
4930-708: The exercise. An ethical code was created by Tourist Union #63 (a hobo union created in the mid-1800s to dodge anti-vagrancy laws, which did not apply to union members) during its 1889 National Hobo Convention: There are numerous hobo conventions throughout the United States each year. The ephemeral ways of hobo conventions are mostly dependent on the resources of their hosts. Some conventions are part of railroad conventions or "railroad days"; others quasi-private affairs hosted by long-time hoboes; still others surreptitious affairs on private land, as in abandoned quarries along major rivers. Most non-mainstream conventions are held at current or historical railroad stops . The most notable
5015-434: The healthcare system's performance has not been promising, either. Disabilities , especially where disability services are non-existent, inconvenient, or poorly performing can impact a person's ability to support house payments, mortgages, or rent, especially if they are unable to work. Traumatic brain injury is one main disability that can account for homelessness. According to a Canadian survey, traumatic brain injury
5100-510: The homeless population in the United States, and this has presented new challenges to agencies. In the U.S., the government asked many major cities to come up with a ten-year plan to end homelessness. One of the results of this was a " Housing First " solution. The Housing First program offers homeless people access to housing without having to undergo tests for sobriety and drug usage. The Housing First program seems to benefit homeless people in every aspect except for substance abuse, for which
5185-400: The homeless population. Some formerly homeless people, who were finally able to obtain housing and other assets which helped to return to a normal lifestyle, have donated money and volunteer services to the organizations that provided aid to them during their homelessness. Alternatively, some social service entities that help homeless people now employ formerly homeless individuals to assist in
SECTION 60
#17327803168635270-466: The host and promote his book The Areas of My Expertise . In this appearance, Hodgman recounted the sad tale of the lobster (which he said were actually a small, furry, extinct species, killed and replaced by the creatures we think of as lobsters today) and brought along Jonathan Coulton , a frequent Hodgman collaborator and musical director of the Little Gray Book lectures. Coulton performed
5355-483: The host of a fictional show-within-a-show . Also in 2012, he appeared as a psychiatrist in an episode of Community called "Curriculum Unavailable." Hodgman made a guest appearance on the sitcom series Husbands in its second season. In 2013, Hodgman starred as "Special Agent Henry Topple" in Wired 's first scripted web series Codefellas . Hodgman appeared as public radio personality August Clementine in
5440-416: The housing market that push rent burdens higher, making housing unaffordable. In many countries, people lose their homes by government orders to make way for newer upscale high-rise buildings, roadways, and other governmental needs. The compensation may be minimal, in which case the former occupants cannot find appropriate new housing and become homeless. Mortgage foreclosures where mortgage holders see
5525-460: The necessary support systems, hindering their ability to escape poverty. Poverty is a significant factor in homelessness. Alleviation of poverty, as a result, plays a vital role in eliminating homelessness. Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have studied 'unconditional cash transfers' (UCTs) to low-income families and individuals to reduce poverty in developing countries. Despite their initial concern about UCT's potentially negative effects on
5610-475: The next eight years. However, with a focus on the broader numbers of people experiencing homelessness, many people with higher levels of need got caught in the system. Work from 2017 started to address this, with a framework put in place to work towards a day where everyone in Scotland has a home suitable to meet their needs. In 2002, research showed that children and families were the largest growing segment of
5695-539: The past; of those, persons looking for work are hobos , whereas those who do not are tramps . All three of these terms, however, generally have a derogatory connotation today. In 2004, the United Nations sector of Economic and Social Affairs defined a homeless household as those households without a shelter that would fall within the scope of living quarters due to a lack of a steady income. The affected people carry their few possessions with them, sleeping in
5780-423: The penalty was gaol . Vagabonds could be sentenced to the stocks for three days and nights; in 1530, whipping was added. The presumption was that vagabonds were unlicensed beggars . In 1547, a bill was passed that subjected vagrants to more provisions of the criminal law, namely two years servitude and branding with a "V" as the penalty for the first offense and death for the second. Many vagabonds were among
5865-508: The poor, transients, and afflicted, such as a " skid row ". In New York City, for example, there was "the Bowery " – traditionally, where people with an alcohol use disorder were to be found sleeping on the streets, bottle in hand. In the 1960s in the U.K., the nature and growing problem of homelessness changed in England as public concern grew. The number of people living "rough" in the streets had increased dramatically. However, beginning with
5950-468: The program offers little accountability. An emerging consensus is that the Housing First program still gives clients a higher chance at retaining their housing once they get it. A few critical voices argue that it misuses resources and does more harm than good; they suggest that it encourages rent-seeking and that there is not yet enough evidence-based research on the effects of this program on
6035-481: The railroad, though others such as "A No. 1" and "Palm Tree Herby" rode trains as tramps or hoboes. Hobo culture—though it has always had many points of contact with the mainstream American culture of its day—has also always been somewhat separate and distinct, with different cultural norms. Hobo culture's ethics have always been subject to disapproval from the mainstream culture; for example, hopping freight trains, an integral part of hobo life, has always been illegal in
6120-628: The recipients, the researchers found promising results. The study in Kenya found that assisted households increased their consumption and savings. While the families spent more on their food and food security, they did not incur any expenses on unnecessary goods or services. This study shows that a proper approach to poverty could effectively eliminate this factor as part of a solution to homelessness. Providing access to education and employment to low-income families and individuals must also be considered to combat poverty and prevent homelessness. Homelessness
6205-404: The rise of cell phones a moniker is more often used simply to "tag" a train car or location. Some moniker writers have tagged train cars extensively; one who tagged under the name Bozo Texino during the 1970s and ’80s estimated that in one year ("where I went overboard") he marked over 30,000 train cars. However, not all moniker writers (or "boxcar artists") are hoboes; Bozo Texino in fact worked for
6290-595: The risk of being robbed or assaulted. Some people convert unoccupied or abandoned buildings (" squatting "), or inhabit mountainous areas or, more often, lowland meadows, creek banks, and beaches. Many jurisdictions have developed programs to provide short-term emergency shelter during particularly cold spells, often in churches or other institutional properties. These are referred to as warming centers , and are credited by their advocates as lifesaving. Other common terms include urban campers , unsheltered , unhomed , and houseless . In 2020, an entry on homelessness
6375-493: The same social protection. The ETHOS Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion was developed as a means of improving the understanding and measurement of homelessness in Europe, and to provide a common "language" for transnational exchanges on homelessness. The ETHOS approach says homelessness is a process (rather than a static phenomenon) that affects many vulnerable households at different points in their lives. The typology
6460-503: The show's web site as a contributor. In 2005, Hodgman played a character named "The Deranged Millionaire" in They Might Be Giants 's Venue Songs DVD/CD , narrating in between songs with dialog he co-wrote with the band. The Deranged Millionaire character also appeared on The Daily Show on April 2, 2014. He also narrated a number of Venue Songs -themed setlists during the band's live shows in 2005, and has introduced
6545-585: The story. Nonetheless, it is certain that hoboes have used some graffiti to communicate, in the form of "monikers" (sometimes "monicas"). These generally consisted simply of a road name (moniker), a date, and the direction the hobo was heading then. This would be written in a prominent location where other hoboes would see it. Jack London , in recounting his hobo days, wrote, Water-tanks are tramp directories. Not all in idle wantonness do tramps carve their monicas, dates, and courses. Often and often have I met hoboes earnestly inquiring if I had seen anywhere such and such
6630-673: The streets, in doorways or on piers, or in another space, on a more or less random basis. In 2009, at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Conference of European Statisticians (CES), the Group of Experts on Population and Housing Censuses defined homelessness as: In its Recommendations for the Censuses of Population and Housing, the CES identifies homeless people under two broad groups: Article 25 of
6715-413: The top two common mental disabilities among the U.S. homeless. Personality disorders are also very prevalent, especially Cluster A . A history of experiencing domestic violence can also attribute to homelessness. Compared to housed women, homeless women were more likely to report childhood histories of abuse, as well as more current physical abuse by male partners. Gender disparities also influence
6800-524: The topic of President Barack Obama as the first nerd president, and he quizzed the President on his knowledge of Frank Herbert 's novel Dune . Hodgman appeared in the last two episodes of the first season of Bored to Death , "The Case of the Stolen Sperm" and "Take a Dive," as a literary reviewer who wrote a bad review that offended the main character. He returned in the second and third seasons. Hodgman voice-acted on The Venture Bros. in
6885-626: The weekly Radio Consuelo show on freeform station WMFO in Medford . In 1994 Hodgman graduated from Yale University with a degree in literature, focusing on literary criticism. Before gaining fame as a writer, Hodgman worked as a literary agent at Writers House in New York City, where he represented Darin Strauss , Deborah Digges , and actor Bruce Campbell , among others. Hodgman has used his experience as an agent in his column "Ask
6970-598: Was added to The Associated Press Stylebook noting how "Homeless is generally acceptable as an adjective to describe people without a fixed residence" and that reporters should use person-first language to "avoid the dehumanizing collective noun the homeless, instead using constructions like homeless people, people without housing or people without homes." Following the Peasants' Revolt , English constables were authorized under 1383 English Poor Laws to collar vagabonds and force them to show support; if they could not,
7055-422: Was agreed by all parties that a ten-year plan to eradicate homelessness by the end of 2012 would be implemented. The Minister of Housing met with the third sector and Local Authorities every six weeks, checking on progress, whilst consultations brought about legislative change, alongside work to prevent homelessness. There was a peak in applications around 2005, but from there onwards figures dropped year on year for
7140-490: Was launched in 2005 and is used for different purposes: as a framework for debate, for data collection purposes, policy purposes, monitoring purposes, and in the media. This typology is an open exercise that makes abstraction of existing legal definitions in the EU member states. It exists in 25 language versions, the translations being provided mainly by volunteer translators. Many countries and individuals do not consider housing as
7225-467: Was published on October 24, 2017. Vacationland was a finalist for the 2018 Thurber Prize for American Humor . His most recent book, Medallion Status, was released on October 17, 2019. Hodgman was the headline speaker at the 2009 Radio and Television Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C. Hodgman was born and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts , the son of Eileen (née Callahan),
#862137