Hi there.
This semester (Spring 2015), I will be embarking on a journey to alleviate homelessness in Boston, some way, some how. My teachers keep telling me I need to explain why I care about this. It seems self-evident to me, but they are wise so I will listen. I feel connected to others on a human level, regardless of class, race, religion, or circumstance because I believe that there is a simple common ground in being human. I attribute my feeling at least partially to my Catholic upbringing. I've been taught that everyone is a brother or sister in Christ, and therefore, I have inherent compassion for others. I have inherent trust in others. This is not to say that I would trust every person with my life, but I trust every person to be human and to be at least mostly good, until I see otherwise. When I see a panhandler, I have a strong emotional reaction, a lurching sense of guilt and responsibility, and I cannot forget it and move on with my day the way I would have if I did not see that person.
Since moving to Boston three years ago, I have noticed that not everyone appears to feel the same way. Friends have pulled me closer as we pass panhandlers, questioned me for putting a dollar in the cup, and made comments about the life choices of street-side and sheltered homeless individuals. I do not wish to demonize these friends because I think they are mostly good people. I do think they are very wrong about this, and I want to find out why they see the problem the way that they do.
I will keep track of my process on this blog so that you may follow along as I go. At this point in time, I have held informal interviews with around one dozen homeless individuals personally. Based on speaking with them, and with my classmates, I have gained some insight into the problems that I believe design might have a hand in solving.
—Problem 1: Social Awkwardness vs. Human Dignity—
How can we channel compassion into meeting tangible needs? How can we convince people to give? In a city, how can we connect people of all classes with their community? How can we prove that most panhandlers are feeding themselves with your buck? How can we create networks of trust between passerby and panhandlers?
—Problem 2: Safety—
How can we make shelters safer? How can we give homeless people the tools to defend themselves without making them a public safety threat? How can we lock up belongings and make them safe when a homeless person is sleeping? I’m thinking more of a sheild, or bag that keeps articles secure than a weapon..
—Problem 3: Gentrification/Lack of Low-Income Housing
In a thriving city, where is a safe and economical place for the homeless to stay? How can we create shelters that pay tribute to the dignity of each homeless human being, but are cost-effective for tax payers? Can we use public manpower (in some small way) to gather materials for this? To build this? To create funding for this?
—Use found Data to create heat maps of United States, and of Boston
—Plot shelters and all resources on Map
—Problem 4: Income Inequality How can we make minimum wage enough? Should there be a campaign to raise the minimum wage? Are there ways to allow the homeless to market themselves in order to find employment? In order to start new businesses? In order to help each other?
—Problem 5: Awareness of Resources Available
Would it make sense to launch an awareness campaign targeted at the homeless to teach about street tricks and tips? About available resources? Are there any gaps in Resources?