This article argues that estimates of the numbers of homeless Americans are vastly overstated. Beginning around 1983, the number 3 million — approximately 1.2 of every 100 Americans — was reported as the benchmark figure. According to the author, advocates for the homeless have made an art form of deflecting questions about their inflated estimates, either by denying the validity of lower estimates, questioning the competence or the sensitivity of researchers who obtain them, or denying altogether the importance of accurate measurement. As a result, the perception of millions of neglected homeless roaming the streets has gathered wide currency (author).
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