Following the #antihomelessspikes controversy there have been swaths of news articles about how we see and treat the homeless of our towns, cities, and countries. Often it is categorised as a problem which needs to be solved. I hate that, somehow the suggestion that it is a problem removes the human aspect. It is less about people and more like a detached issue to deal with.
I’ve seen a couple of interesting articles that have jumped from the ‘spikegate’ event. Incidentally the spikes in Southwark have now been removed. Today I saw a story that shows a more compassionate acceptance of the homeless individual. I’m not saying that our response should just be to accommodate the homeless, ultimately our goal should be to eradicate the option. No-one should have no home, no stability. In Canada RainCity Housing have combine advertising with a stopgap solution. – Find Shelter Here benches direct people to more permanent shelters but give immediate bench shelters from the elements. Whilst in San Francisco – which according to this article is the US’s homeless capital (a fact I’d like to check out) – a recycling conscious solution is beginning to establish itself. Reusing decommissioned buses Lava Mae is rolling out (literally!) hygiene stations for the city. Giving a small stopgap opportunity – recognising that we do still have homelessness, and not enough access to facilities. Lava Mae offers a small way to restore dignity and ownership over what I’m sure is often an unstable and city reliant existence.