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Discrimination against homeless people

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Anti-homeless architecture[1]

Discrimination against homeless people is categorized as the act of treating people who lack housing in a prejudiced or negative manner due to the fact that they are homeless. Other factors can compound discrimination against the homeless including discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, age, mental illness, and other considerations.

Social ostracization, institutional discrimination, and punitive legislation targeting homeless individuals leaves a well documented negative impact on those experiencing homelessness, such as reported lower rates of well being, poor social support, and a decreased access to goods and services[2].

Discriminatory legislation regarding homelessness

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Main article: Criminalization of homelessness

Discriminatory legislation against homeless people include restricting public areas used for sitting or sleeping, ordinances restricting panhandling[3], actions intended to divert homeless people from particular areas, penalizing loitering, asocial or antisocial behavior,[4] and unequally enforcing laws on homeless people but not enforcing the same laws on those who are not homeless.[5] An American Civil Liberties Union report claimed that the government of LA discriminated against the homeless residents. The report lays out the ways such as "harassment, segregation, issuing citations", by which the government discriminates against homeless people and holds back essential services that could save their lives.[6]

Employment discrimination is also a buffer to homeless people despite Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting such actions. An argued example of employment discrimination is the requirement of job applicants to list their home addresses. It has been reported that when an employer identifies an address as a homeless shelter, they will react by not offering the position regardless of the applicants sufficient qualification[7]. Sarah Golabek-Goldman is one advocate for Ban the Address, a campaign that proposes that employers delay asking about an applicant's address until after the applicant is given a job offer to deter a discriminatory rejection.[8]

History of homeless discrimination in the United States

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"Homelessness" as a term was first used in the United States after the emergence of the Industrial Revolution. During this period of time the demand for agricultural and trade work shifted to a demand for factory workers who would find themselves dependent on wages from their wealthier employer instead. The term "homelessness", coined in the 1870's, arose in response to the perception Americans had of the many young men travelling the country in pursuit of work during this period of time.[9] Primarily these young men were categorized as troublemakers, nontraditional heathens, and tramps who were looked down on by society because of their unwillingness to participate in factory work.

Most homeless people during the following decades remained predominantly young white men until World War II, which shifted the demographic slightly as an increasing number of older disabled men became homeless.[10]

The modern conception of homelessness can be marked as emerging in the 1980's when homelessness was drastically exacerbated by an economic recession, low wages, high housing costs, gentrification of the inner cities, insufficient social services, the medical crisis of HIV/AIDS, drug crises, and the deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill.[11]

As of 2023 the rate of homelessness was at an all time high, again in large part due to stagnant wages, high housing costs, cuts to social services, and continually emerging drug crises.[12] In addition, incarceration rates have disproportionately increased while jailhouse programs tasked with providing ex-offenders with job training and tangible employment opportunities have been cut, leaving a sizeable segment of the population with decreased resources to avoid poverty and potential homelessness.[13]

Anti-camping legislation and policy

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In July 2022, The Los Angeles City Council voted 10-1 in favor of expanding Municipal Code 41.18,[14] the anti-camping law banning sitting, sleeping and storing property within 500 feet of several parks, recreation centers and other facilities.[15] Following the council's vote, Councilman Hugo-Martínez, who opposed 41.18, wrote in a Twitter post, "LA's Municipal Code 41.18 criminalizes unhoused people, preventing them from existing in large portions of the city, even as we don't have nearly enough housing or shelter beds to accommodate everyone forced to live on our streets."[16]

Criminal victimization

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See also: Homelessness in the United States § Crimes against homeless people

Precise factors associated with victimization and injury to homeless people are not clearly understood. Nearly one-half of homeless people are victims of violence.[17] There have been many violent crimes committed against homeless people due to their being homeless.[18] A study in 2007 found that this number is increasing.[19] This can be further understood as to why this happens, and supported by another study that found that people do not even perceive homeless people as fully human, neither competent or warm.

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Lack of access to public restrooms

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Per the National Alliance to End Homelessness,[21] in January 2017, there were a total of 553,742 homeless people accounted for across the United States, including territories. Of those accounted for, 192,875 of them were unsheltered and "lived in a place not meant for human habitation, such as the street or an abandoned building". Many unsheltered homeless camps are located in industrial districts and along highways, far away from public parks facilities where traditional public bathrooms are located. If local municipalities do not provide bathroom access, homeless people are left to urinate and defecate in the streets and waterways near their camps.

Robinson and Sickels with the University of Colorado Denver[22] released a report highlighting the criminalization of homelessness across the State of Colorado. During their research, they found that 83% of the people they interviewed said they were denied bathroom access because they were homeless. Without access to bathrooms, unsheltered homeless populations across the country are living in third-world conditions[clarify]. This, in turn, leads to public health concerns such as the hepatitis A outbreak seen in California. As reported by Kushel with The New England Journal of Medicine,[23] in 2017 alone 649 people in California were infected with hepatitis A; this outbreak began in the homeless population.

Anti-homeless architecture

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"Anti-homeless spikes" in front of a window

City and town plans may incorporate hostile architecture, also known as anti-homeless or defensive architecture, to deter homeless people from camping or sleeping in problematic areas.[24] Research conducted by Crisis (based in the UK) recorded that 35% said they were unable to find a free place to sleep as a result of the designs. The named hostile architectures include; anti-homeless spikes, segregated benches and gated doorways.[25]

Due to the politicization of the homelessness problem, the funds to help people with mental illness have been diverted to other areas leaving the mentally ill without any help. Mental health is considered one of the most significant contributing factors to homelessness.[26]

Resources to help

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People who are homeless struggle with social inclusion. Some are scared to reach out because they fear the discrimination that may come with it. Reconstructing past relationships into something positive can make all the difference.[27]

Another substantial factor is employment. Employment can help these people to feel wanted as well as assist them to get back on their feet. There are some facilities that offer shelter and employment, one being in Los Angeles. “Skid Row,” conducted a study to see what kind of impact this help gives. Homeless people granted the shelter were likelier to want to work. [28]

There are many actions to take when it comes to helping homeless people. Some simple ones are donating clothing, household items, books, and other materials. Other measures that can be taken involve fundraising programs, supporting a homeless shelter, or even helping to raise awareness. [29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Andreou, Alex (2015-02-18). "Anti-homeless spikes: 'Sleeping rough opened my eyes to the city's barbed cruelty'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  2. ^ Johnstone M, Jetten J, Dingle GA, Parsell C, Walter ZC. Discrimination and well-being amongst the homeless: the role of multiple group membership. Front Psychol. 2015 Jun 1;6:739. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00739. PMID: 26082741; PMCID: PMC4450171.
  3. ^ Criminalizing Crisis: The Criminalization of Homelessness in U.S. Cities (Report). National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. November 2011. Archived from the original on 2017-09-14. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  4. ^ "Britain: Where have all the homeless gone?". The Economist. Vol. 372, no. 8388. pp. 21–49.
  5. ^ Out of Sight - Out of Mind?. National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. 1999. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-7881-8276-1.
  6. ^ "The ACLU Says There's A War Against Unhoused People In Los Angeles". LAist. 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  7. ^ Bullock, H. E., Reppond, H. A., Truong, S. V., & Singh, M. R. (2020). An intersectional analysis of the feminization of homelessness and mothers’ housing precarity. Journal of Social Issues, 76(4), 835–858.
  8. ^ GOLABEK-GOLDMAN, SARAH (2017). "Ban the Address: Combating Employment Discrimination Against the Homeless". The Yale Law Journal. 126 (6): 1788–1868. ISSN 0044-0094. JSTOR 44867953.
  9. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Policy and Global Affairs; Science and Technology for Sustainability Program; Committee on an Evaluation of Permanent Supportive Housing Programs for Homeless Individuals. Permanent Supportive Housing: Evaluating the Evidence for Improving Health Outcomes Among People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2018 Jul 11. Appendix B, The History of Homelessness in the United States. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519584/
  10. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Policy and Global Affairs; Science and Technology for Sustainability Program; Committee on an Evaluation of Permanent Supportive Housing Programs for Homeless Individuals. Permanent Supportive Housing: Evaluating the Evidence for Improving Health Outcomes Among People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2018 Jul 11. Appendix B, The History of Homelessness in the United States. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519584/
  11. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Policy and Global Affairs; Science and Technology for Sustainability Program; Committee on an Evaluation of Permanent Supportive Housing Programs for Homeless Individuals. Permanent Supportive Housing: Evaluating the Evidence for Improving Health Outcomes Among People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2018 Jul 11. Appendix B, The History of Homelessness in the United States. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519584/
  12. ^ https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness/
  13. ^ https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/socal-connected/the-rise-of-homelessness-in-the-1980s#:~:text=In%20Los%20Angeles%2C%20high%20unemployment,1986%20to%20$341%20in%201991.
  14. ^ Cagle, Kate (July 31, 2022). ""LA poised to expand anti-camping law as vital shelter program ends"". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  15. ^ "LA City Council votes to impose anti-camping law in Westside". Fox 11 Los Angeles. February 15, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  16. ^ "LA council orders review of effectiveness and financial cost of city's anti-camping law". ABC 7. April 13, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  17. ^ Meinbresse, M; Brinkley-Rubinstein, L; Grassette, A; Benson, J; Hamilton, R; Malott, M; Jenkins, D (2014). "Exploring the Experiences of Violence Among Individuals Who Are Homeless Using a Consumer-Led Approach". Violence & Victims. 29 (1): 122–136. doi:10.1891/0886-6708.vv-d-12-00069. PMID 24672998. S2CID 36463124.
  18. ^ Fantz, Ashley (February 20, 2007). "Teen 'sport killings' of homeless on the rise". CNN.
  19. ^ Lewan, Todd (April 8, 2007). "Unprovoked Beatings of Homeless Soaring". USA Today. Associated Press.
  20. ^ Johnstone, Melissa; Jetten, Jolanda; Dingle, Genevieve A.; Parsell, Cameron; Walter, Zoe C. (2015). "Discrimination and well-being amongst the homeless: the role of multiple group membership". Frontiers in Psychology. 6: 739. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00739. ISSN 1664-1078. PMC 4450171. PMID 26082741.
  21. ^ National Alliance to End Homelessness. (2018). State of homelessness. National Alliance to End Homelessness, retrieved from https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness-report/
  22. ^ Robinson and Sickels (2015). No right to rest criminalizing homelessness in Colorado. University of Colorado Denver and Denver Homeless Outloud, retrieved from http://www.cpr.org/sites/default/files/homelessness-study.pdf
  23. ^ Dr. Kushel, M. (2018). Hepatitis A outbreaks in California – addressing the root cause. The New England Journal of Medicine, retrieved from https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1714134
  24. ^ McFadden, Christopher (2020-11-22). "15 Examples of 'Anti-Homeless' Hostile Architecture That You Probably Never Noticed Before". Interesting Engineering. Archived from the original on 2020-11-22. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  25. ^ "New research from Crisis uncovers dehumanising effects of defensive architecture". Crisis.
  26. ^ Gorfido, Ashley. "Homeless and Helpless: How the United States has Failed those With Severe and Persistent Mental Illness". Journal of Law and Health. 34: 108–129 – via Gale OneFile.
  27. ^ Johnstone, Melissa; Jetten, Jolanda; Dingle, Genevieve A.; Parsell, Cameron; Walter, Zoe C. (2015-06-01). "Discrimination and well-being amongst the homeless: the role of multiple group membership". Frontiers in Psychology. 6: 739. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00739. ISSN 1664-1078. PMC 4450171. PMID 26082741.
  28. ^ Delphin-Rittmon, M. (2022). Homelessness resources: Self-care for Providers. SAMHSA. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.samhsa.gov/homelessness-programs-resources/hpr-resources/self-care
  29. ^ Davis, B. (2017, August 17). Get involved. National Coalition for the Homeless. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://nationalhomeless.org/taking-action/get-involved/
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