Homelessness is not new; it has been around for centuries in various forms. It has recently become the focus of more attention and concern, however, as its presence and its effects have become more visible in the modern urban landscape. This section will examine the international experience of homelessness. While the national economic, legal, social and welfare systems of various countries may differ substantially, making inter-country comparison difficult, such comparison can provide fruitful insights into how homelessness has evolved in different contexts and may help to identify the principal factors that contribute to it. U.S. researchers have been studying homelessness since the beginning of this century, and have thus a richer experience and a longer perspective on this phenomenon. Their research, described below, may provide insights and have application to the Canadian experience of homelessness.