Is There a Better Solution? How Hostile Architecture Affects the Homeless Population

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Public space is defined as an area that is open and accessible to the general public. In Portland, places like the Waterfront, the International Test Rose Garden, and various parks and gardens breathe life into the city. These public spaces are intended for all people to meet, connect, and simply exist beside one another. So, what happens when the key component of accessibility begins to be stripped away and a public space becomes privatized?

The term hostile architecture has been around for many years. Hostile architecture is defined by Cambridge Dictionary as a “design of public spaces in a way that stops unwanted behavior”. Examples of hostile architecture include; benches with dividers to prevent people from lying down, uncomfortable seating, fencing, etc. The design of this urban architecture limits accessibility for many people, creating an exclusive environment in public spaces. In reality, all this architecture is achieving is deterring the presence of unhoused people and moving them elsewhere, it is not a real solution. 

In 2023, Portland City Council approved $500,000 out of its 44 million dollar budget to go towards the installation of benches to prevent camping near Laurelhurst Park. Just a few years earlier in 2019, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) spent around $800,000 placing massive boulders around Oregon in strategic areas to prevent camping. It is a massive amount of money to pour into architecture that doesn’t get to the root of the issue. 


For these boulders, benches, and other hostile architecture to be installed, existing communities may have to be uprooted during a street sweep. Boston University, Cornell, and a nonprofit, Community Solutions, found that the act of uprooting houseless communities can isolate individuals further from their support network, family, and even social workers. It can also lead to lost identification information, clothing, medication, and other important belongings making it difficult to eventually search for a job or housing without the proper supplies. 


In a conversation with Oregon Live, Cole White, an unhoused resident of Oregon, stated, “Despite the numerous times people have come to force us out, very few have offered real assistance beyond toiletry kits. What I really need is help with filling out paperwork for housing and disability benefits”. White makes a significant point, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, the two major contributing factors to homelessness are a lack of assistance programs and a lack of low-cost housing. Instead of allocating large amounts of money to hostile architecture deterrents, more funding for organizations and services to help unhoused people would be more valuable to find a long-term solution. 


An allocation of these funds can help programs like Rent Well that need funding in order to provide resources to people struggling to find affordable housing. The Rent Well course is a 15-hour tenant educational program that can be completed in as little as 3 to 6 weeks. It teaches individuals how to become responsible, successful, and stable tenants, while also assisting them in setting goals and creating a plan for future housing. 


If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about Rent Well, follow this link for more information: https://www.tprojects.org/rent-well


Resources: 

https://community.solutions/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Policing-and-Punitive-Politics-of-Local-Homelessness-Policy-Brief.pdf?utm_source=website&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=policing&utm_id=policy-brief


https://community.solutions/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Policing-and-Punitive-Politics-of-Local-Homelessness-Policy-Brief.pdf?utm_source=website&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=policing&utm_id=policy-brief


https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/11/portland-to-spend-500000-on-benches-to-stop-homeless-from-camping-near-parks.html


https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/15/hostile-architecture-in-portland-seems-intended-to-deter-camping-in-public-spaces/


https://www.streetroots.org/news/2021/12/08/hostile-architecture

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