“A civilization that chooses to close its eyes to its most crucial problems is a stricken civilization. A civilization that uses its principles for trickery and deceit is a dying civilization” -Aime Cesaire
The true measure of a country is not the height of its skyscrapers or might of its military – but the treatment of vulnerable populations. On any given night, more than half a million people experience homelessness in the United States. But in the midst of massive wealth accumulation is a dearth of compassion for the downtrodden.
Homeless People, Peopleless Homes
Embedded in the discourse of politicians and civilians alike is the idea that homelessness is caused by a “housing shortage.” Pundits sprain their brains when they explain the relationship between supply and demand in the housing market. However, this line of reasoning completely overlooks the fact that there are 6 vacant properties for every homeless person in the United States. Even if we use more conservative figures, there are still 2.3 empty houses for every person that is homeless. There are more peopleless homes than homeless people because houses do not exist to satisfy human needs. Under capitalism, houses are instruments to extract profit. If someone cannot afford their monthly rent or mortgage payment, they are thrown onto the streets. There is no such thing as a “housing shortage” – there is only a shortage of humanity.
Everyday Dehumanization
Anyone who is vaguely familiar with America’s inner cities has borne witness to people holding cardboard signs and begging for spare change. Reactions tend to fall into two camps: ignore the victims or punish them, or both. Motorists are notorious for avoiding eye contact with ‘bums’ – and pedestrians are known to simply step over ‘hobos’ laying on the sidewalk. This warped mentality is validated and reproduced at the structural level by governments that criminalize poverty. Across the country, anti-panhandling ordinances are being passed that subject the poor to heavy fines and jail time. Consider the fact that between 2011 and 2014, the number of cities that banned panhandling increased by 25%. It is evident that people who beg for money are demonized as ‘public nuisances’ and blemishes on the body politic. Police departments are utilized as instruments that fumigate these ‘menaces’ from gentrifying areas – quelling the concerns of wealthy, white developers and residents about their ‘quality of life.’ Adding insult to injury is the fact that local governments are altering the public spaces frequented by transient populations. Specifically, municipalities are investing in defensive architecture: street furniture (i.e. park benches) that is rigged with spikes or bars to prevent prolonged stays by people who are homeless.
Image: vertical bars installed on bench to prevent people from laying down. Photo Credit
A common idea is that people who are homeless and beg for money deserve to suffer because they are (more likely to be) substance abusers. Empirical studies have found that individuals who are homeless do, in fact, consume drugs and alcohol at higher rates than the general population. However, our analysis needs to be expanded to view the entire picture. Addiction to drugs/alcohol is often a cause of homelessness. Detoxification programs often advance the idea that “the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it is connection.” From this perspective, addiction is a consequence of dehumanization – a turning inward and away from people. Children who suffer adverse childhood experiences and trauma are significantly more likely to become alcoholics as adults. That being stated, there is a significant chance that the people who are living on the streets were denied meaningful human connections from an early age. Now, consider their feelings when a motorist avoids eye contact or a pedestrian steps over them. These responses reaffirm the original feelings of violation, vulnerability, and solitude experienced in childhood – all of which might exacerbate their substance abuse, which worsens their financial plight.
Keep in mind that people who are homeless are typically ignored at their darkest hour. Not only are such individuals in a precarious position, but the masses of people fail to acknowledge as such. Making eye contact, smiling, and giving an uplifting word is important – as it establishes a connection and sends the message that there is still hope.
References:
Cesaire, Aime. 1955. Discourse on Colonialism. Monthly Review Press: New York
August 10, 2017 at 3:43 pm
Ok, great post. And so true. I have experience with “hobos” and smiling at them. I was standing in downtown L. A. waiting for a bus when a “hobo” and 2 women passed by going in opposite directions. He asked them for some money. Both women literally pulled back away from him as if he was a leper. He then walked up to me. He said “I was going to ask you for some money but you have a smile on your face, not like those two **))&(, so you have a good day”. I just laughed and said thank you. I didn’t have any money anyhow just my bus pass. But I saw that because people are poor and begging does not mean they have no feelings.
LikeLiked by 3 people
August 10, 2017 at 4:11 pm
Thank you Ms. Elva! That is a great story. Our attitude goes a long way. When I was in grad school up in Boston, there was a lot of traffic. A black man, who seemed to be homeless, was strolling the sidewalk alongside cars at the red light … for spare change. I gave him some money, but since there was so much traffic, I had to wait in that spot for a while. So we talked about banal topics (i.e. the weather, sports, etc) – and when it came time for me to drive away, the man said “I love you”. Reflexively, I said “I love you too”. This was not an accident … as I saw him a few times and had a conversation with him, and he always ended with “I love you”. So, yes, they have feelings, like you said … and it is not ALL about the money.
LikeLiked by 2 people
August 10, 2017 at 7:47 pm
So sad and true! There are many abandoned and boarded up homes here in the Atlanta Metro area. I know that it’d just take a few days and a few sets of greased up elbows to make them livable! But nope, they’d rather post them up for sale with a “no trespassing” sign.
And I do try to keep food on hand if I’m going to an area where I know I’ll pass them. Usually they are grateful but every once and a while, someone is too high to even acknowledge the gesture. It’s baffling that people don’t see the correlation; I’d probably be drunk out of my mind, too, if I’d lost all hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 10, 2017 at 8:02 pm
Hey Kelley!
You are right to point out the “no trespassing” signs. Abandoned properties are always framed as nuisances that attract crime … instead of as opportunities.
There are also a lot of empty government buildings, too. We should use those for shelter. Trump is barely at the White House; and DC is broke in many regards. I say homeless people be allowed to sleep in the Oval Office!
We need to completely rethink our idea of property. People have such huge plots of land, with big houses. Why does one person need three homes with 4 bedrooms each?!?!?! Its wasteful. I am at the point where I think every person should be limited to one property, because I have a lot of bougie aunts that have timeshares down South that they only spend a week at for the year. It sits empty for 358 days! This is morally wrong.
And we are the same with regard to keeping food on deck. I always give folks water bottles and sometimes popcorn. Every once in a while, like you said, someone will not appreciate it. But I would probably be pissed off if I was homeless so I cut them slack. And I would definitely be getting high and/or drunk if I were homeless; it is completely understandable.
And what gets me is this: the people who critique them for drinking alcohol are typically people who drink, too. So what they are really doing is condemning them for buying alcohol by non socially acceptable means, smh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 10, 2017 at 9:56 pm
Hear, hear!
As we both know, we’re living in a very individualistic society. Like I got this big house on my own; you wouldn’t be homeless if you weren’t lazy; I’m good so what’s your problem?
“They” say they want to end homelessness but don’t create real, long-lasting solutions. It could really all be so simple.
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 11, 2017 at 1:51 am
It is devastating, and sickening to think there are actually six abandoned homes for every homeless person! I suppose it should not surprise me that this is so — I often think about how much food there is in the world, how much goes to waste, how much more could be grown very simply — and I reach the conclusion that there should be NO hungry people in the entire world. I suspected the same with shelter but did not know these mind-blowing stats. It is really sad to think of all the waste, deprivation and GREED in this country.
Ahh, great consciousness raising post, Darryl!
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 14, 2017 at 8:12 am
Hi Christine! Thank you!
You are right to make the connection between housing waste and food waste. In this country, people are starving, while 40% of food is simply thrown away. And there are companies that throw food into the trash at the end of their business day, but poison it to prevent “dumpster diving”.
I agree: there should be no hungry people in the world. It amazes me that the stingiest people tend to be Christian. Like … did they miss that whole Jesus feeding the multitudes part of the Bible!? It is all greed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 14, 2017 at 9:33 am
Yet another sad statistic I did not know and does not surprise me — 40% of the food? Unbelievable. There is no lack, only greed. And stupidity,
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 13, 2017 at 11:30 pm
“The true measure of a country is not the height of its skyscrapers or might of its military – but the treatment of vulnerable populations.” Love this! Also, you mentioned ACES and trauma which makes this newly trauma-informed girl giddy despite the context of the conversation. I also learned something new about the so-called housing crisis. I never knew there were more homes than homeless people even though I always thought that excuse was BS anyway. Great post!
http://www.tunisiajolyn.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 14, 2017 at 12:59 pm
Heyyyyyyyy my friend! How are you? It has been a while. I took a hiatus for a bit, and I know you were taking a bit of one last time I checked. I will be over to your site very soon, likely tonight to check out your recent uploads!
I am glad you liked that opening sentence. That is the hardest part about writing for me: the introduction. It took me a long while to craft that sentence lol.
I am glad you are trauma-informed. I am becoming more trauma-informed, as well, because of my employment.
It is good you learned about the so-called housing shortage. Usually, whenever America is saying there is not enough of it – the exact opposite is true. People are starving … but there are people who are obese and throwing away food. People are poor – but the military has a blank check to bomb black/brown countries. It is definitely BS as you said
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 14, 2017 at 2:24 pm
Heyyyyyyyyy! I’m alright. How are you? I finally revealed my website to the world on Saturday!
I feel you on the opening sentence. If that doesn’t come out, then nothing does. People always tell me well you can write around that and I’m like nah. lol
I am becoming trauma-informed because of my job as well.
And America stay lyin’… I’m not surprised though. [insert Kanye shrug]
LikeLike
September 10, 2017 at 10:47 pm
There are many truths in this article. It is heartbreaking to see people on the street. Whenever I have it, I try my best to give. Even if I know they may or may not be using it for food or housing. The fact still remains that that are human and deserve compassion just like the everyone else. GREAT ARTICLE!!!!!
http://RockYourLuv.Com
LikeLike
October 1, 2017 at 12:58 pm
Admist the petals, the buds and the flowers capitalism lies the ominous thorns and thistles. It is a crime to be poor. The are no laws against poverty . Nonetheless, the poor will unequivocally be punished for their “sins”. There are more peoplel-ess homes than homeless people for a reason. Seeing them starving, cringing and begging for subsistence serves as warning to the populace. They are life-banners that read as such: ” Pay-up your bills or this is what will happen to you.” People don’t read laws or signs or warnings. People read people. The homeless people of this world are of great value to the money merchants. They keep the “Shylocks” in business.
Your post is greatly informative. What can we do to make this world a better place?
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 3, 2017 at 7:23 am
I apologize for the delayed response.
Great points. In the context of the subject of this post, we can make this world a better place by giving money to those who are homeless. If we cannot do this, or feel uncomfortable doing this, we can simply make eye contact and smile at them.
What we can do, in material terms, is start or join a grassroots organization fighting for rent control. A lot of people are priced out of the housing market. We need to demand that all rents freeze in neighborhoods, while simultaneously fighting for working people to earn a living wage.
LikeLiked by 2 people
November 22, 2017 at 2:03 am
Landlords and property professionals should be taxed on gross income plus capital gains tax for property increase ( and taxes pursued much more aggressively than they are now!) money raised should be put back into the system to help working people who live in the area. General house standards should be raised – for some me being a slummy landlord is a business model! Disgusting!
LikeLike