Overlooked America

In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, America was horrified by an onslaught of media accounts about those left stranded, homeless, or dead in New Orleans. And as further investigation made clear, residents of impoverished neighborhoods were the most vulnerable to disaster. In short, they were overlooked—much like the homeless, jobless, poor, and disabled victims of the everyday disasters of poverty and neglect whose lives are explored in Overlooked America.

A compilation of articles published in Planning magazine between 2006 and 2008, this eye-opening anthology offers a fresh look at how planners and communities affect the everyday lives of marginalized citizens. Featuring on-the-ground perspectives and expert interpretations, Overlooked America tackles a broad range of social problems to ask why a nation replete with resources is home to so many needy individuals and families. This ambitious volume is both a chronicle of systemic disaster and a plea for change.