Worldwide, the endless stories of failed anti-homeless initiatives make us wonder at affordablehousingaction.org.
Just what does it take to make self-righteous citizens and their accommodating city councils realize what a waste of time and money council decisions, edicts and by-laws can be. That’s to say nothing of the sour spirit of inhumanity that infects all who dabble in these dark and futile ‘homeless-begone’ arts.
Would a proper study change the perspective of self-righteous citizens and the officialdom that serves them?
Take ordinances that forbid people to sleep at night. Is it necessary to explain to entire communities that, indeed, there probably once was a large gene pool that included insomniacs who insisted on pottering about all night while others slept? But by and large, that gene pool is no more — undoubtedly eaten many thousands of years ago by wild animals, dining out on wanderers in the dark.
So, as a lingering human trait, we all must sleep a considerable number of hours. Is it really necessary to point that out? Apparently so. And that’s why over-zealous, unimaginative neighbours and their councillors find their sleeping bans inevitably accompanied by a chorus of snores.
When it comes to the capabilities of people who are experiencing homelessness, it is necessary that practical common sense comes into play. Regardless of basic human rights, basic physiology serves to thwart all manner of silly proposals.
How to understand this non-battle between neighbours cruising the neighbourhood and shouting ‘begone’ into bullhorns at those who will still be there in the morning? Yes, perhaps the unwanted may give the neighbourhood a miss, but quite possibly for only for a day or two1?
Rigorous academic studies may help us all come to terms with the reality that homelessness must be addressed, not only by recognition of the right to adequate shelter of all humans, but by active efforts to provide that shelter.
Here’s just such an academic exploration of the futility of shouting ‘boo’ to a homeless goose. Read more in The Guardian: Dispersing homeless people fails to stop antisocial behaviour, finds study
