Anti-Homeless Architecture

 Hostile Architecture is not a solution 

    I was reading a News article from KTLA (link to the article below) discussing how business owners were taking measures into their own hands by having planters installed on the sidewalk to deter homeless encampments. LA has the 2nd highest amount of people impacted by homelessness in the US with the most recent figures estimating over 75,000 people are homeless there. While I understand that having a bunch of tents set up in front of the business isn't ideal for the business owners or for customers, installing planters isn't helping nor is it a solution. The strategy of using hostile architecture to purposefully guide behavior isn't new to urban design. This style of architecture is designed to impact people who rely more heavily on public spaces, like people impacted by homelessness. Think about anytime you have been at a park and you saw a bench with an armrest in the middle of it. Think of concrete ledges that are sloped or that have metal studs to prevent people from resting there comfortably. These are just a couple of the examples of hostile architecture and how the practice negatively impacts people. 

   Our current society is quite fascinating. We are simultaneously as connected as we have ever been to the happenings of the world due to the internet and social media, yet we are more disconnected from each other than ever. I believe people coming up with ideas like hostile architecture are indicative of a lack of compassion and empathy that is extremely common throughout society in the US. We view our world now through the lens of a screen and far too few people are engaged in a real way with the people around them. Perhaps they could have a conversation and get to know the people that have been forced to camp outside their building instead of building planters to keep the homeless people off the sidewalk. Maybe then they would understand that the homeless people don't want to be there but they have nowhere else to go. It always amazes me the lengths at which people and municipalities will go to avoid addressing the real problem. Instead of figuring out how we can use taxpayer dollars to help these people get into a space that is safe and comforting we instead choose to focus on "How can we get these people out of my space". At the end of the day, all that is doing is kicking the can down the road. Homeless people have a right to exist, they need a place to live and rest. Creating architecture and designs to prevent people from comfortably resting in public spaces is cruel and forcing homeless people to live in tents in another area of the city doesn't solve the problem. Housing first is the only solution and the solution that I am working towards accomplishing nationwide! 

https://ktla.com/news/hollywood-businesses-install-planters-on-sidewalk-to-deter-homeless-encampments/

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