Abstract
The United States is facing a worsening homelessness crisis, but city lawmakers’ have not widely embraced the evidence backed approaches to addressing homelessness, with little opposition from the public. The Contact Hypothesis and the Social Construction of Target Populations are used to study the relationships between contact with homeless communities, support for punitive and structural homelessness policies, and how residents view homeless people in their communities. The recent increase encampments suggests that homelessness is now more visible to housed residents, and previous research showing contact with homeless people decreases prejudice should be revisited. Survey results showed support for punitive homelessness policy had no relationship with contact but was associated with perceived deservingness of the homeless population. A better understanding of how homeless people are socially constructed to the public can help activists and lawmakers communicate about the strategies for reducing homelessness and increase public support for effective homelessness policy.
Advisor
Clark, Alyssa
Second Advisor
Wrobel, Meg
Department
Psychology; Political Science
Recommended Citation
Feldman, Ciru, "Contact with Homeless Populations, The Social Construction of Homelessness, and Punitive Policy" (2025). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11328.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11328
Disciplines
American Politics | Social Psychology
Publication Date
2025
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2025 Ciru Feldman