Over the past five years, poll after poll has placed solving homelessness near the top of Canadians’ priorities. As if to reflect that concern, a growing number of books on poverty from high-profile publishers has appeared, including Mel Hurtig’s Pay the Rent or Feed the Kids. Toronto city councillor Jack Layton, who for years has lobbied on behalf of the homeless, is the latest to throw his pen into the ring. The results are decidedly mixed.

Books by politicians in office are always tricky propositions. Layton frequently and unnecessarily inserts himself into the story of the crisis, quoting his own impassioned pleas before council and never shying away from the use of the politician’s favourite pronoun, “I.” While Layton has certainly been active in the fight to end homelessness, his tendencies toward self-aggrandizement and the glad-handing of fellow politicians undermine his credibility.

That stylistic annoyance aside, there is plenty of good information here for the concerned citizen. Layton wisely divides the issue of homelessness into separate sections examining definitions, causes, history, and suggestions for a path forward. Unfortunately, these sections suffer from awkward and inconsistent writing, some reading like outlines for stump speeches and others like a professor’s lecture notes. The ending is weak as well, with the shortest chapter consisting of lukewarm suggestions on getting personally involved but no listing of organizations, web sites, or resources for the concerned newcomer.

While it is clear this is a book written on the run – as Layton traverses Canada meeting with his fellow politicians to seek solutions – a greater attention to detail might have made it a valuable tool in ending what the mayors of Canada’s largest cities have deemed a national disaster.