Unhoused, homeless, or by any other name - sleeping outdoors

 

Around 8:30 Wednesday morning, traffic on right, walkers on left [click for full size]

Having no fixed abode or address has consequences large and small for people in 2024. Shelter from cold and wet and wind is one thing. Having a place to gather one's chattels is another. Personal safety, personal hygiene, personal memories/mementos also depend on having a place to call home. Being able to store food, then cook, eat, and clean up also depends on having a place of one's own. Without an address it is hard to receive deliveries and messages, as well as recharging cellphone or other electronic devices.

This picture shows somebody's private encampment on public parkland in Grand Rapids, Michigan, about a mile north of city center. The past two days have been blanketed by excessive heat (although tempered by cloud and moderated by steady wind) which is forecast to persist all of today and the Thursday and Friday, as well. It is not night chill to worry about, but distress or worse from humans, along with the burden of heat. At the moment rain is not a likely concern. But having no shelter means the weather and changing seasons dictate one's well-being.

Considering that fact that national wealth divided over the population gives a statistical "richest country on Earth" declaration, it seems unimaginable to see things like mass shootings, poor air conditions and water supply, bankruptcy by medical billing, huge illiteracy and low high school graduation rates, as well as persisting unhoused people on the streets (but also unhoused in rural counties, too). But once the "richest country" is factored by demographic segment, it is true that 1% of the population owns something like 50% of the wealth. Then perhaps the top 25% accounts for 90% of all the wealth. For the remaining 75% of people living in the USA the last 10% of the national wealth can be divided to give a figure that makes this country far from "the richest" country. Seen in that frame of reference, people living in cars and on the street and in parks or overnight shelters is not so surprising.

See also, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distribution_of_wealth#In_the_United_States

Living high and living low near the Grand River

Lighted north-south passage under the bridge protects campers from prevailing west wind

 Fall colors point to the winter nights ahead for the many downtown residents living outside of traditional housing for private or for group residence. Shelters may not always be full, but some prefer their own company no matter what the weather may bring. Day centers allow warming up, as do public places like the bus terminal and library. When the problem is heat of summer, not cold of winter, then the same public places and a few dedicated "cooling centers" also are open in the heat of the day.

This photo is from October 2023 in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. The juxtaposition of one of the multi-story condominiums or apartment rental buildings puts the thin fabric of 21st century tents in stark contrast. With many gaping cracks in the USA system of social, medical, mental health, financial and educational support, even relatively secure members of society can go through a series of unfortunate events and have no fixed abode; sometimes sleeping in car or truck and other times losing even that piece of personal property. Perhaps some segments of the city dwellers in ancient Roman also went through loss of means, of property, of dignity, too. But for 2023's "richest" country it seems impossible that cities and also rural areas across the continental USA and indeed in all states and territories count among their residents so many who are visibly unhouses; and many others who "pass" (not visibly unhoused).

Described in the language of computer studies, this problem of no roof over one's head is the result of at least three categories of failure. One is "hardware"; that is, places and physical standards of minimum care, wellness checks, and so on. Another is "software"; that is, policies and organized groups of people, but also social institutions both religious and secular to serve those lacking an address. Finally, there is "heart-ware"; that is the often unwritten rules, expectations, reward and punishments woven into the relationships, attitudes and ideals of the society. In 2023 USA the overpowering celebration of youth, consumerism, and rugged individualism all contribute to "making invisible" people who do not fulfill these models. A person who is no longer youthful, who has no discretionary income to spend, and who does not strive to be some kind of Epic Hero does not attract praise or even validation of their identity and place in life.