One reason why many black Americans are susceptible to homelessness is that they are denied opportunities for employment and must therefore rely on the social welfare system. One of the greatest obstacles to black employment is the abandonment of manufacturing by U.S. industry. Except for temporary unemployment benefits, able-bodied males are generally not eligible for welfare; homelessness is the consequence of living with no income. However, most researchers have failed to examine the relationship between severe and persistent poverty and homelessness. This author argues that this link is evident in the relinquishment of inner city school systems, which serve largely black populations who often suffer from severe poverty. He notes that proposals regarding the problem of homelessness must also address the redistribution of wealth and recognize the impact of race on national decisions to resolve social problems. The focus of any reform must be to provide a means to people who have been historically excluded from acquiring the means to escape severe and persistent poverty. 40 references