The Homeless Crisis

What is anti-homelessness?

█    HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE

If you look around your city, chances are you will notice hostile architecture everywhere. Hostile architecture is an anti-homeless design strategy used to prevent crime and help maintain order. It implements features like armrests in the middle of benches, rocky pavements, spiked windowsills, and street spikes to fend off homeless people from publically using these public spaces for their own needs. The main issue with hostile architecture is that it is an ineffective and inhumane way to address the crisis by shunning homeless people from society when they have nowhere else to turn to. 

 

█    STEREOTYPING

Stereotypes are common beliefs people share about a group that is based upon generalized opinions, prejudiced attitudes, or imprudent judgment. Homeless people in particular have fallen victim to ideologies that render them as perpetually criminal and non-human. These misconceptions contribute to the disparages of an already vulnerable community and play a crucial role in preventing them from having access to the basic human resources they deserve. It is important to recognize the underlying causes of living on the street are diverse.

STEREOTYPE TRUTH They spent all their money on drugs and alcohol There is a percentage of homeless people that do struggle with substance abuse. While addiction can lead to homeless, most of the time addiction develops after a person loses their home to cope with the anxiety and trauma of living on the streets. Addiction is a disorder that requires counseling and aid to overcome and unfortunately, homeless people suffering from substance abuse disorders don’t always have accessibility to the services they need.   They’re violent criminals   Life out on the streets is incredibly dangerous and in most cases, homeless people suffer from violent acts rather than commit them. When the homeless are criminalized, it’s usually because just existing in public is breaking the prohibitive laws against them. Without anywhere else to go during the day, their life-sustaining and harmless behavior in a city that lacks adequate shelter is criminalized by and of itself. They’re lazy and just need to get a job   Homeless people have a difficult time finding and keeping jobs due to lack of transportation, basic grooming such as showering and clean clothes, identification, and an address. Some also might have a criminal background from being homeless, a disability, or lack of education that creates even more obstacles for them. Employers can feel hiring a homeless person is too risky and even if they are able to be hired, unaffordable housing is still a major problem they face.   They choose to be homeless   No one wants or chooses to be homeless. Homeless people often experience an unexpected job loss, illness, or accident that makes it difficult to maintain housing and consequently results in eviction.

One of the biggest misconceptions people infiltrate in their mind is we cannot change the course of homelessness, but as Carolyn Finney suggests, “I believe we have to start where we are, which means we have to fully acknowledge where we are—the good, the bad, and the ugly. We need to name it, claim it, and be willing to reframe it. Which means deeply questioning our present beliefs and being willing to see how they might cloud our vision(s) for the future. Beliefs can become facts or truths at once static, unchanging, and powerful, which then become the foundation for action.” As humans, we must hold empathy, listen to people’s stories and experiences, and educate ourselves in order to sufficiently address some of the core issues related to homelessness.