Many large cities are struggling to effectively manage homelessness. At times, the homeless are portrayed as those in need of supports and services. In other instances, they are represented as a threat to otherwise safe communities. Which term explains this phenomenon?

Framing is the way an issue is presented, shaping how people understand it. Homelessness is framed in two different ways here: as a need for support or as a threat to community safety. That makes “framing” the correct choice; agenda setting is about which issues receive public attention, rather than how an issue is portrayed.

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