Defensive Architecture Of Homelessness

In London, there have been many instances that the government has tried to intervene in stopping the increase in homelessness from creating benches that a person can’t actually sit on, to railings that look like the inside of iron maidens, to the extremity of even placing metal spikes in locations known to house those without a proper home. This is known as “defensive architecture”. “The first word precludes some form of attack. The second refers to structures and the environment” (Borromeo). But there is nothing defensive about structures like this, laying these metal studs outside a property sends out a message, and it’s a downright aggressive and unfriendly one, “Get off.” Defensive architecture says that people, regardless of whether they …show more content…
More than 300 communities committed themselves to ending chronic homelessness, partnering with local and state agencies and the private and nonprofit sectors. By combining housing and supportive services, they led a remarkable fight that has reduced the number of chronically homeless by more than a third in five years (Buset). That is why it is important for us as a society to work together with the government to bring an end to this crisis. The first approach to conquering this issue would be the prevention of homelessness, and rapid permanent supportive housing. The emergence of permanent supportive housing—housing connected with health and social services—has literally changed the face of homelessness in many communities. Working in collaboration with the federal government, localities have created thousands of units of permanent supportive housing and reduced the number of chronically homeless people across the nation by more than a third. The number of beds for permanent supportive housing has increased by 34 percent since 2007 (Donovan 24). Because affordable housing with necessary services generally costs less than those associated with multiple emergency rooms visits and stays in jail, this shift in focus to permanent supportive housing …show more content…
We cannot stop earthquakes, we cannot prevent droughts, and we cannot prevent all conflict, but when we know where the hungry, the homeless and the sick exist, then we can help” (Jan Schakowsky). Homelessness is a social problem that plagues our nation today, and we are not spending enough time addressing this issue. We as a society view them as less, and therefore we do not extend a hand, believing that they got themselves into that mess that they can get themselves out of it. This way of thinking is wrong there are many reasons why we should help those who struggle every day to find somewhere to sleep, somewhere to fend themselves from the harsh environment. If we can not help those who have to go on with life without a home out of the goodness our hearts, then we should think about the economic and health consequences of leaving these people to fend for themselves. No one benefits from these people living on the streets, and even of we truly believe that the government is trying to help their efforts alone aren’t enough. The United States has always been a nation of doers and dreamers. We need to be committed to this goal, and actually go out there and do something. The issue will not go away if we pretend to look away. Working in collaboration with the federal government, localities have created thousands of units of permanent supportive housing and reduced the number of chronically homeless people across