Housing Patterns of Homeless People: The Ecology of the Street in the Era of Urban Renewal - Homeless Hub Research Summary Series

Many middle and upper class households moved to the suburbs after World War II, leaving the downtown core to be occupied by lower income households, including homeless people. The suburbs provided both an escape from the “problems of the city” for those who could afford a car and a home, and a place for them to exercise their individual freedom in the form of private property. However, with gas prices and traffic congestion on the rise, and long commutes between city centre employment and suburban housing, downtown living became more desirable for middle-class households. This led governments and developers to “clean up” the downtown to provide a more attractive environment that appeals to middle-class households. This is known as urban renewal, a process that can have seriously negative effects on homeless populations who are increasingly being pushed out of public urban spaces.

Housing Patterns of Homeless People: The Ecology of the Street in the Era of Urban Renewal was published in the Journal of Contemporary Ethnography Volume 40, issue 1:71-101 in 2011.

Publication Date: 
2012
Location: 
USA