Blog Post Nine

What is the Difference Between Sheltered and Unsheltered Homelessness?

Homelessness is caused by a myriad of issues, all of them devastating. We have met many people over the years touched by drug or alcohol abuse, a lost job, a failed marriage, in reality the causes are as broad as the people themselves. Years ago, we mostly met older men that were homeless, Vietnam vets, or older men struggling with alcoholism. Today the demographic has changed and there are an alarming number of young men and women living on the streets unsheltered. This is especially true since the Opioid Crisis has claimed so many bright futures. So why all this talk about sheltered vs unsheltered, and why does it matter? Isn’t homelessness, homelessness? Broadly yes, homelessness is being without a home or a place that looks and feels like home to someone. But the experience of homelessness is dramatically different for sheltered vs. unsheltered people. In our nearest city, there is wonderful Homeless Shelter. This shelter is big, safe and clean and even has a home for women and children. It is a wonderful resource to our city and the people that live there. They provide shelter from the weather, a bed to sleep in, wonderful meals and the safety and security of staff members helping with their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. While these people are still in crisis, there is stability and provision. But this winter, shelters simply couldn’t accommodate as many people with social distancing guidelines, Covid outbreaks and new requirements to get into shelters. This left many more people living unsheltered. For some, Covid didn’t change their view of shelters. They just aren’t able or willing to share a space next to someone else and would rather be out on their own. Others say it is the choice of the lesser evil. Some cities are inundated with so many drug users that the shelters fill up with those that need the services the most, and the more mentally fit find it easier and safer to live unsheltered.. It is a difficult situation. We have heard many stories about why people do or do not utilize the homeless shelters. Our city’s shelter is a wonderful example of what a shelter should be, but in bigger cities we have seen a young man shoot drugs right in front of the shelter in plain view. The truth is any unsheltered homeless person has far greater needs than someone who has even the relative security of a shelter around them. Just this week we’ve learned about the benefit that even a tent provides those that are living unsheltered. A tent, is a place to call home. It is mobile, protects from much of the weather and provides warmth, rest, privacy, safety and security that is the foundation of Maslow’s needs hierarchy. If you’ve never heard of this, it is a triangle that describes the basic needs of humans from the most essential and basic needs to the most complex. It is as shown below.

These needs are foundational to the human experience and are the basic needs that we feel all people deserve. Shelters meet the primary level of needs, but without shelter, unsheltered individuals and families have to fight for survival. Every day they are living without their basic physiological needs being met. This is why it is such an intense battle when cities threaten to shut down homeless camps. These camps while far from ideal, allow unsheltered homeless individuals to live in community and provide for some of the most basic needs on Maslow’s hierarchy. Without intentional planning, homelessness will always be a humanitarian and political crisis. There has got to be a better way. We have some ideas… but that’s another blog post. For now let’s keep doing what we are called to do, loving, caring, sharing hope and treating others with dignity, and staring down homelessness with compassion and common sense.