Abstract

Michael Susko has edited a powerful and poignant book, written by people who are homeless or who have been homeless, or who have been in mental hospitals. In spite of the fact that some of the writers have died and that the others have faced terrible problems, there is hope in this book. There is vitality in the personal accounts of experience, and in the poetry and drawings. The book is particularly useful for helping people understand more about what it feels like to be a homeless person, or a person in a mental hospital. This understanding will help improve the chances of strong legislation and government funding for help for homeless people. It also will improve the mental health professional's ability to be empathic with his or her patients