By Jayme Hamel
In Portland last year, large concrete planters appeared under the bridges along Southwest Naito Parkway. A popular New York City bookstore installed sprinklers into its famed awning. A homeless camp full of men, women, and children was cleared out by police, only to be replaced with 18 bicycle racks in an area where people do not frequently ride bicycles. These are all examples of hostile, anti-homeless architecture. Hostile architecture is a trend in urban design meant to deter homeless people from seeking shelter. You may see the more noticeable types, such as spiked vents, slanted benches, and barred-off corners. But there are also more subtle examples that often go unnoticed: benches with armrests that prevent the homeless from sleeping, decorative rocks or other structures in areas frequented by the homeless, uncomfortable sitting areas, or raised patterns on concrete.
The primary cause of homelessness in the U.S. is a lack of affordable housing. The cost of rent has been rising across the country, while the supply of affordable housing has fallen. This is especially true for people of color. Due to systemic inequality, many people of color struggle to find affordable housing in safe neighborhoods. Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies reports, “in 2019, 43% of Black, 40% of Hispanic, and 32% of Asian households spent more than 30 percent of their incomes on housing, compared with 25% of white households”. Youth are at the highest risk of homelessness. An estimated 2 million youth run away or are forced out of their homes each year, and of this, around 42% are LGBTQ. Other major causes of homelessness include mental illness, addiction, and domestic violence.
Many architects and business owners advocate for the use of hostile architecture. Dean Harvey, the co-founder of a company that produces hostile furniture, claims, “It can provide a solution: prevent drug drops, [or] minimize the amount of time people spend in an area. With a perched or sloped surface, people can't loiter for too long.” When asked about homeless people needing a place to rest, Harvey responds, “I find it difficult to think why anyone would want to sleep on a bench. It's no place for anyone to spend the night.” Supporters of hostile architecture believe that making harmless public areas inaccessible will prevent crime and loitering.
However, Harvey’s claims can be debunked. There is no evidence that hostile architecture prevents drug exchanges or loitering; drug exchanges can take place anywhere, and people will still find ways to loiter. While hostile architecture would keep the homeless out of the public eye, doing so is cruel when they have nowhere else to go. While Harvey doesn’t see why anyone would want to sleep on a bench, for some, it is the most comfortable option. Making the bench inaccessible will only drive the homeless to harsher environments. A common argument is that hostile architecture is a “public safety tool”. This suggests that the homeless seeking shelter are a threat to the public, which makes them feel excluded from society.
There are far more considerate and effective options to prevent homelessness, such as investing in local homeless shelters and soup kitchens, and arranging places for people to stay. Keeping people away from resources necessary for their survival is not, and will never be, the solution to homelessness.
Bibliography
Jock, Kaitlin. “You Are Not Welcome Here: Anti-homeless Architecture Crops Up Nationwide.” Street Roots, 7 6 2019, https://www.streetroots.org/news/2019/06/07/you-are-not-welcome-here-anti-homeless-architecture-crops-nationwide.
Joint Center for Housing Studies Of Harvard University. “The State Of the Nation's Housing 2020.” Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University, 2020, https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_The_State_of_the_Nations_Housing_2020_Report_Revised_120720.pdf.
Letherwood, Ivy. “Hostile Architecture.” The Franklin Post, Franklin High School, 19 3 2020, https://fhspost.com/hostile-architecture/.
Lo, Andrea. “The Great Debate: Is Hostile Architecture Designing People - and Nature - Out Of Cities?” CNN Style, CNN, 21 12 2017, https://www.cnn.com/style/article/new-dean-harvey-james-furzer-hostile-architecture-debate/index.html.