On houselessness
Sylvia Rust
The way that Soja compares the infrastructure of Amsterdam and Los Angeles looks at the way communities ignore completely the houseless populations. Although Amsterdam has done more for their vulnerable populations, it is still gentrifying areas that could house people that have low-incomes.
When we were doing our donation drive, we had many people come up to us and say “I live under the bridge, can I still get donations?” Another man came up to us after the donation drive and asked me if there was a place for temporary housing besides the Rescue Mission. I did not have an answer for him. He said he was waiting for his disability to come in and was just going to be unhoused for two weeks. The Rescue Mission denied him. I told him to go maybe to the Sheppard’s House on Spy Run. When you look at their website, it just states that it’s an addiction and alcoholism center that runs on the workings of the Lord. This guy really made me think about the lack of resources for people in Fort Wayne that are just down on their luck. Why can’t these people get help? Why do people stay in low-income jobs when they could try to reach higher rage jobs? Because they will lose their government assistance. It’s wrong to encourage people to get higher wages, live in ‘nicer’ neighborhoods, and get off welfare when social stability is not there. For many people like the man who spoke to me at Freimann Square, they are one check away from being on the street. In the United States and in Fort Wayne, people don’t have anywhere to go when they just need a leg-up. In Amsterdam, there is socialized medicine, the squatters got some legislation to support them. In LA, there is nothing that supports the houseless population. People are not getting the support they need. In Fort Wayne, the known non-profits and charities have so many rules and regulations to the support they offer -- this is an example of repressive tolerance. The urban anarchy is seen throughout this class, in Welch and Mitchell especially when they talk about the lack of third/open places for the people who need them most. Public parks look friendly and inviting, but people who need help don’t need pretty flowers or water attractions, they need housing, food, health insurance, and a livable wage. What are we doing for those people?
