Unhoused, or in danger of becoming so? What are you at risk of losing? Some things are perfectly obvious: for example, a waterproof roof you can call your own.
Not quite so obvious: the respect of your fellow citizens is also at risk. Homeowners, along with the political forces that support them, are often threatened by people who are unhoused and who ‘pollute’ neighbourhoods. As well, people who are housing-secure are well positioned to influence civic authorities that govern access to public spaces.
The housing-secure can keep tabs on neighbourhood passers-by and notice new faces that are unfamiliar. Call them less-than-worthy, lower class ‘incomers’ who are unworthy of civic respect1.
In democracies, community changes can also come directly from the right to vote. This way to influence local, regional and national government is frequently unavailable to citizens who are unhoused as they can’t provide an address. When citizens without homes are excluded from voting, the treatment of citizens who are homeless is decided citizens who are housed.
Recognizing this hierarchy of citizenship through possession of housing, some countries are taking steps to redress this inequity. Read more at Politico: Ireland has a new group of voters: The homeless
Footnotes
- Here’s a classic example of this attitude, picked up and passed along not only by community members but by servants of the community and reported by ABC17KMIZ: Jefferson City police, city officials noticing more homeless individuals in city
