Why is this issue important? When Hurricane Irma hit, did you think about these questions?
Where do people without a home or a car go?
Will shelters be safe enough for people to stay?
How will we get through this hurricane?
Many Gainesville residents did not have to think deeply about these questions. Even though many people were anxious and worried about how the storm would impact the community, many had a place to stay, didn't worry about finding shelter and knew they could survive. But what about the homeless residents in our community? Warm places always give people hope. For the homeless, the warmth of our state is enticing and seems like the perfect place to be if you have no other place to go. Florida, while full of sunshine, is also a state that is tied to hurricanes. When we see the word “hurricane”, heavy wind, stormy weather, and flooding can easily appear in our minds. Statistics show that the “Sunshine State” has the third largest population of homeless in the United States.
The Homeless 2017 Annual report shows that last year, at a single point in time, Florida’s homeless population was 32,109. These were people living on the streets, in the woods, or in emergency shelters. Among them:
2,789 were homeless veterans
9,363 were persons in homeless families
5,120 were chronically homeless and disabled persons
No one chooses to be homeless, yet the reality is there are many people who are experiencing homelessness every night. We cannot deny that homelessness in Florida is an important social issue to address.
In 2017, the homeless population reached a record low of 819 in North Central Florida, according to the Point-in Time survey. That number was 1,814 in 2012.
What is “Homelessness”? The word “homeless” often brings a particular image to mind: an unkempt man living on the streets and assumed to be struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues.
While that stereotype represents reality for a relatively small percentage of people who are homeless, the faces, ages, and situationsof those who are homeless are widely varied. Many individuals and families experience economic homelessness due to job loss, medical issues, or other hardships. Chronic homelessness on the other hand, is defined by HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) as an individual who is “either (1) an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has been continuously homeless for a year or more, or (2) an unaccompanied individual with a disabling condition who has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.”
Why is housing a priority? Housing is more than just a roof over our heads. Our homes and apartments are where we take refuge from the bustle and stress of public life, share meals with family and friends, and store our belongings. Our housing is also a base from which we search for jobs, find good schools for our children, and put down roots in our communities. In short, our housing is where we make our home.
As for homeless people, providing them with housing as quickly as possible is consistent with what they need and want. Once the person is housed, the services can be provided on a consistent basis. Some statistics show that doing nothing about homelessness is much more costly than offering people housing, which means permanent supportive housing is a sustainable way to manage this social problem.
Why does severe weather matter? All natural disasters cause loss in some way. Depending on the severity, lives can be lost in any number of disasters. Falling buildings or trees, freezing to death, being washed away, or heat stroke are just some of the deadly effects. Some disasters cause more loss of life than others, and population density affects the death count as well. Do you ever think of where homeless people go when hurricanes hit? Shelters, compared to our own home, are just temporary places for them to stay. It is not safe enough, doesn’t have enough facilities to guarantee one’s daily life, and cannot give someone a sense of belonging. Many scientists say that the frequency of extreme weather is a sign of global warming, which means both hurricanes and extreme cold days will continue or even worsen in the future. We cannot begin to imagine how many challenges the homeless people face even while living in the sunshine state.
Conclusion With the statistics and the facts above, we worked to find ways to minimize the damage severe weathers bring to the homeless. We also feel that homeless people’s safety of life and property should be extremely urgent for both state officials and society as a whole.
Why Don't Homeless People Use Shelters?
In this project, we interviewed people with different backgrounds about their perspectives on homeless shelters. Many people with homes assume shelters are unquestionably safer and more comfortable than living on the street. However, as we moved through the project, we found that homeless residents had a very different perception of shelters. Gainesville Commissioner David Arreola believes building shelters and encouraging people to utilize shelters is an effective solution to solving the homelessness problem. Yet to some homeless people, living in vans or sleeping bags is more preferable. The reason behind this is complicated and we dive into it throughout this project. Concern for safety is at the top of the list for the homeless. Shelters are often labeled dangerous places, not only to the public, but also to the residents. Female residents are facing a tougher situation than their male counterparts due to their vulnerability. One woman we spoke with said she would never go to GRACE Marketplace again because of the potential for sexual assault, unwanted touching or even rape. Another one of our interviewees told us that finding a man to rely on is the only way to survive in a shelter for a woman.
Another main issue we found was a lack of facilities. Shelters are often over crowded and understaffed. Some residents are left to share a bed with another resident. Gainesville's extremely hot days increase the risk of spreading contagious diseases in these close quarters. Since the shelters are difficult to manage at all times, they can become perfect places for bacteria to reproduce. When we interviewed Dr. Chang-Yu Wu, the Department Head for Environmental Engineering Sciences in the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment at the University of Florida, he mentioned that bacteria would be multiplied through sewer systems on extremely hot days. With the fear of becoming sick, homeless people expressed a urgent need for shower sets. They hope more will be installed and even suggested the idea of mobile showers so that they can be accessed anywhere, not just in shelters. With many different concerns, solving homelessness isn't as simple as sending people to shelters. So what do these residents do when severe weather hits and they have no place to go?
Summary of reasons people don't live in shelters:
Fear for safety- homeless choose not to live in shelters out of fear for their own safety.
Lack of space- due to overcrowding, there is a lack of privacy and greater risk of theft. Many homeless would prefer to stay outside in open space rather than stuck in a crowded shelter. These close quarters also leave people at a greater risk to contract illnesses.
Married or have kids- If a couple wants to live in Grace Marketplace they are separated into different dorms by gender. If they choose not to separate from their partner there is limited space available in the outdoor shelter pavilion. Due to current policies, if a family has children they cannot live together in Grace Marketplace. However, there is a non-profit organization called "Family Promise of Gainesville" where homeless family housing is currently being offered.
Pets- if a homeless person has a dog or cat, they have trouble finding a place to stay. Many animal owners choose to live outside just so they can keep their pets.
Criminal background- shelters like GRACE Marketplace run background checks on potential residents to address safety concerns. This makes it impossible for anyone with a criminal background to find a home there. People with mental health issues are often denied as well.
Following rules- shelters expect residents to follow a specific set of rules and if they don't comply, they cannot stay there.