Journal of the Korean Geographical Society (대한지리학회지)

The Korean Geographical Society (대한지리학회)
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Social Geography of Homelessness in Maryland, USA

노숙자의 사회지리학적 연구 - 미국 메릴랜드주를 사례로

  • Bae Mi-Ae (Institute of Busan Geography, Pusan National University)
  • 배미애 (부산대학교 부산지리연구소)
  • Published : 2005.06.01
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Abstract

The substantial economic expansion of the 1990s with the dramatic changes in the provision of welfare services in America, including welfare services for the homeless, had unexpected and differential impacts on homelessness and poverty rates across the states. This paper examines a spatial pattern and process of homelessness by counties in Maryland, USA, considering the spatial differences in the composition of financial income and expenditure with sharply different poverty situation and welfare services. This social geographical approach of homelessness in Maryland focuses on the changing personal characteristics of homeless people and the relation=hip between homelessness and poverty; homelessness and the provision of welfare services such as shelter beds and emergency food providers. It makes a conclusion that there is an uneven sociospatial patterns of homelessness, relating to diverse poverty situation and provision of welfare services for the homeless by variable welfare policy among counties, Maryland.

1990년 이후 미국의 높은 경제성장에도 불구하고 매년 급격히 늘어나는 노숙자는 미국이 해결하여야 할 중요한 사회문제 중하나가 되었다. 노숙자의 공간적 분포 및 발생요인과 노숙자를 위한 복지정책과 복지서비스의 제공은 노숙자 연구의 주요 주제이며, 노숙자의 사회공간적 접근은 이들 주제들의 공간적인 불평등에 초점을 둔다. 미국 메릴랜드주의 노숙자를 사회지리학적으로 접근한 본 연구를 통하여 노숙자의 사회인구학적 특성이 유소년 및 청소년, 여성, 가족단위 위주로 변하고 있으며, 인종적으로도 매우 다양해짐을 알 수 있었다. 그리고 노숙자의 공간적 분포를 결정하는 내적 요인 중 하나인 거주환경의 빈곤상태와 노숙자간에는 긴밀한 상관관계가 존재하며, 메릴랜드주의 경우 체사피이크만을 경계로 하여 첨예하게 대립되는 서부의 부유한 지역과 동부의 빈곤지역은 노숙자분포에 있어서도 공간적인 불평등을 제공하고 있다. 특히 빈곤과 노숙자와의 관계는 부유한 지역보다 빈곤지역에서 더욱 강한 연관성을 나타낸다. 노숙자를 위한 서비스시설이나 프로그램에 있어서도 빈곤은 공간적인 불평등을 만드는 중요한 요인이 되고 있다. 따라서 노숙자를 위한 노숙자쉼터와 무료급식소 역시 노숙자 공간분포에 영향을 미치는 중요한 외적 요인으로 작용하고 있음을 본 연구를 통하여 알 수 있다.

Keywords

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