Surprisingly, in this era of cutbacks and conservatism, a poor people's movement of
great strength and popularity has surfaced. This paper charts the genesis and
formation of the homeless movement analyzing its strategies and successes in light
of current resource mobilization theories. Special attention is paid to the charac
teristic use of litigation as a major advocacy tool. The mobilization of this disor
ganized, disadvantaged, often disabled group is an inspiring story, one that may
prove to be a blueprint for voluntary action in the 1980's.
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