How to Exploit the Homeless: Write a Book Called "How to Live Homeless in Style"

How to Live Homeless In Style: 50 Ways to Survive on Plastic Bottles in These Economic Times. This is the real title of a real book that was recently really published. Seriously. See for yourself.

The author is Dr. Robert Spalding, a podiatrist practicing in Tennessee. According to an article written about the book, Spalding treated several homeless patients that were referred to him from the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, a local homeless services agency. Over time, he gained their trust and began to talk to them about how they survive without a home.

What resulted was over a year of research and the published book. Inside, readers will find pictures of the subjects and the means they use to survive. There are also discussions on how mentally ill homeless individuals are mistreated in this country, survival tips and techniques, resources on food banks and other emergency services, and ways to cope with stress.  In reading this, it seems that Spalding may actually have had good intentions in writing such a piece. Despite the tabloid title, perhaps he was striving to paint a more accurate picture of how homeless individuals survive in this country. Perhaps his goal was to show that we are all human and deserving of a home, or at the very least, deserving of resources and creative means to survive when faced with crisis.

Or perhaps Spalding gained the trust of these vulnerable individuals only to exploit them for the (hopefully minimal) money his book will make. The title alone is enough to make anyone wonder about the author's motivations. As you read further, Spalding seems to provide further misinformation to fuel the many myths and stereotypes surrounding homelessness. He promotes "dumpster diving" as a means to survive and even thrive (his glamorous "homeless" models are perched atop dumpsters, after all).  He seems almost amused providing the endless uses for "coke bottles" — including building a boat (there's a picture on the website). Why a boat would be an essential survival tool for a homeless individual is puzzling.

Spalding also discusses the concern that terrorists may "imitate the homeless in the next terror attack."  He seems to think that our nation's homeless "situation" may be a real homeland security issue that "could lead to the next covert terrorist attack." Okay, just when we thought we've heard every myth about homelessness, here's a brand new one. He gets some credit for creativity. But seriously, now homeless individuals are potential terrorists?! There are no words to even begin to describe how utterly ludicrous and offensive this is.

Look again at the cover of the book. All we really had to do was put the picture up and not even say anything at all. This type of exploitation of poverty and homeless individuals is one of the many reasons there is still so much misinformation and stigma surrounding homelessness. It is also the reason why so many Americans have little sympathy for those without a home. There's an old saying: "don't judge a book by its cover." Well, this is certainly an exception.

Photo credit: Dr. Robert Spalding