Safety in Shelters: Is staying in a shelter a safe choice for all?

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When the topic of housing insecurity is spoken about, the argument that more shelters are needed typically comes up. However, many argue over the fact that some houseless individuals prefer to stay out of shelters and live on the streets instead. While this may seem confusing to many, it’s important to understand the living conditions in shelters and why it may drive people to feel that staying away from shelters is the better choice. 

One concern for those experiencing housing insecurity is theft when staying in shelters. Residents are often told that the shelter isn’t responsible for the loss of their belongings and that they should keep an eye on their items. Those who may have more items to look after may find this overwhelming and would rather not put themselves in a situation where they could possibly lose their belongings. Shelters typically don’t have much privacy or areas to safely store items which makes this an issue for many.

The lack of privacy may also make some individuals fear potential violence. Shelters are typically crowded places which can cause discomfort for some. There typically is a lack of security for residents in shelters as most workers are volunteers and many shelters are understaffed.

Many people are also turned away from shelters, especially during the colder weather due to limited capacity. Only a certain amount of beds are available which makes it hard for people to get the help they need due to it being on a first come first serve basis. This makes people not view shelters as a reliable resource since they can’t always count on them for a warm place to stay at night.

Due to high demand, many shelters only let visitors stay for a certain amount of time. The typical amount of time given to residents for their stay is limited to around three months. This feeling of insecurity for the time of their stay may be off putting for some. To up and leave a spot where they are staying in to live in a temporary location may seem like it would do them more harm than good.

Many people are also more comfortable living on their own. Individuals may grow accustomed to living on the streets since it allows for them to have their own space away from the crowded shelters. Living amongst hundreds of people in a shelter can make it hard for people to get adequate rest and feel secure about their surroundings.

While shelters aren’t always the first choice for individuals experiencing housing insecurity, we can learn from the first hand encounters people have had living in shelters and work on what is needed to provide adequate housing for all. It is necessary for nonprofits to receive more funding in order to provide more resources for those experiencing homelessness. Hopefully more shelters will be created in the nearby future in order to relieve the issues of overcrowding.


Resources:

https://brightenthecorner.org/2023/02/12/why-some-people-avoid-homeless-shelters/ 

https://www.npr.org/2012/12/06/166666265/why-some-homeless-choose-the-streets-over-shelters

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