15 Most Inhumane Ways That Cities Try To Fight Homeless People From Sleeping In Public Places
Hostile architecture. You might not be familiar with the term, but you've probably seen it in action. Those spikes on the window ledges, designed to keep the birds away. Or, in a more sinister fashion, things like strategically-placed armrests or rocky floors, cynically installed to ensure that vulnerable people in need of shelter are forced to look elsewhere.
Not only are homeless folks discriminated against directly and culturally, but also structurally too. These exclusionary designs, denying people even the right to find a place to rest, are a stark illustration of our society's collective disregard for basic humanity. Surely we can do better than this?
This heartbreaking list, compiled by Bored Panda, shows some of the most offensive examples of 'anti-homeless' designs, and it will make you ever so grateful for that roof over your head. Because it seems that if misfortune strikes and you should one day happen to lose it, you are most certainly not welcome to try and find a place to sleep on the streets. Scroll down to see what we mean for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments.
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You’ve Got To Be The Worst Kind Of Heartless Twat If You Can Go Around Slashing Homeless People’s Tents
Homeless or not, wanderer or CEO, you simply don't destroy someone else property. This make me so angry.
Someone Installs These Poles To Prevent The Homeless From Sleeping Here, They Find A Solution Anyways
When You’re Inclusive But Still Hate The Poor
An Eyecatching Response To Mumbai’s Homelessness Crisis
Fark, can you imagine accidentally falling on it. They hate the beggars and the homeless so much they create a hard-core public danger.
This Man Removed 'Anti-Homeless' Devices From Benches And Ended In Court
Cut In The Shape Of An Obelisk, They Are Installed On A Private Site In Paris. Imagine A Homeless Man Who Would Lose Balance In The Middle Of This Work Of 'Art'? Or A Child?
The Worst Example Of Anti-Homeless Architecture I've Ever Seen
More Anti Homeless Spikes....so Much For Community Spirit
Anti-Homeless Architecture
Worker: What should we do about the homeless population? Boss: I don't know, put a bunch of dick-shaped green things everywhere. Worker: Won't that look bad? Boss: Add some wierd rocks to it, then!
There Are A Few Different Varieties But They All Serve The Same Purpose
Note: this post originally had 57 images. It’s been shortened to the top 15 images based on user votes.
I think if I owned a business I'd do the same, I don't want it smelling of piss, shit and littered and putting customers off. If your all so angry and disgusted with places that do make it hard for the homeless to sleep in their doorways, invite them to sleep in your gardens, shed, apartment, homes, No... I thought not.
This is something I was thinking the whole time, not meaning to be cruel and whatnot
Bench In Volgodonsk, Russia is not from homeless people, but from drunkards who drink, litter and make noise noisy and nightly. "Bored Panda" check the facts before you "lie" to people.
I’m glad you’re up voted. The homeless problem in certain areas is so much more complex than people think. I tried helping a family member that came to me homeless and it was bad for everyone. Stolen things, cops bringing him home and drugs. It was a no win situation bc there was no answer. It’s sadly why many only get clean or mental help after jail or hospital stays. Try all you want it’s like trying to stop the wind
couldn't agree more!
I think it's fine if it's in front of doorways, but stuff like benches feels needlessly cruel to me.
I hate to say that but I do agree with Tony :(
You have a point tbh.
Agree ! Homeless dudes dont just need a “place to sleep”. They squat the area bringing all junk, used needles, smell of piss and what not with them.
Eh, many Uni students struggle financially, too.
University students and tourists binge drinking also squat areas and whole towns with their noise, smell of piss and vomits, and copulating in parks and corners, but as they have money people tolerate them, or even encourage them. People are a bunch of hypocrites!
Public spaces aren't the same as private homes. You're despicable.
I would upvote you more if I could!
It's not "discrimination". It's literally the opposite of that. It's not saying "These specific people can't......" it's putting everybody under the same rules. I GUARANTEE you hypocrites wouldn't like some strangers sleeping on your front porch every night.
Exactly.
Actually I used to encourage a homeless guy to sleep on my stoop in when I lived in SF. I was familiar with him and he chased off creeps that would harass my roommates and I.
Public spaces aren't private homes. False equivalency, Trumpanzee.
I work in social services. I work with the homeless. No, I wouldn't want to have someone living on my porch, I would, however, not chase them off with idiocy like this. I have conversations, I listen, I respect. I receive the same back. I don't have homeless on my porch, but I don't put spikes on them to chase them away, either. There are ways and there are ways.
I understand what you're saying, but not everyone has the time to have a conversation with a homeless person every time they come home. I lived in San Francisco for 18 years and I have had human feces on my outside stairs multiple times. With so many homeless people its just not possible to take the time to have a discussion with every one who is invading your space, even if you had the patience for it, and even if they had the mental capacity to have the conversation with you (they don't always).
Also, we have to bear in mind that these "wonders" (sarcastic) not only chase away homeless people, but every person who may need to rest for a minute. Some of them are even dangerous for any passer-by who may be unfortunate enough to fall on them by accident. There are more and more elderly people in developed societies, but our cities are becoming more and more inhumane for everybody who is not healthy, fit and young. I imagine my elderly parents, with their mobility problems, near these monstrosities, and I feel terrified. These things could seriously wound any person. Those who defend this kind of design should think they will be old one day. I hope they need somewhere to rest for a second and they can't find even a tiny place to sit down!
I have compassion, but as someone who cannot get to my apartment without being accosted by homeless people, without having to step over piles of trash and piles of shit from homeless people I can sympathize with the people who own the property, have to maintain the property and clean up after them. And by accosted, I do not mean begging for money, I mean threatening you for money, having them grab at your personal items, demanding you give them a ride somewhere. I promise this, none of you who complain about this have to daily pick up piles of shit left on your doorstep, have to mop up pools of urine and vomit every single day. Aren't afraid to let your kids go outside alone because they will be groped or verbally assaulted. Not every homeless person is this way, but like everything else in this world a few ruin it for everyone.
This is my experience too, in my small town Canadian neighbourhood. The problem is getting worse and worse and a huge chunk of it is the drugs are getting more and more addictive and making people more and more aggressive. I am tired of being threatened, hearing about my neighbours being threatened. I used to have a lot more compassion than I did, but the literal shit on the sidewalks and the needles everywhere and the threatening behaviour is doing me in.
What we need is help for the poor, not spikes and extra bench handles. Better policies, better approaches, and more programs. There will be more homelessness coming, not less, because of automation and other factors. UBI is one way to help this, there are others though.
The answer is housing for them. And if you're so disgusted by the problem, help resolve it.
I think if I owned a business I'd do the same, I don't want it smelling of piss, shit and littered and putting customers off. If your all so angry and disgusted with places that do make it hard for the homeless to sleep in their doorways, invite them to sleep in your gardens, shed, apartment, homes, No... I thought not.
This is something I was thinking the whole time, not meaning to be cruel and whatnot
Bench In Volgodonsk, Russia is not from homeless people, but from drunkards who drink, litter and make noise noisy and nightly. "Bored Panda" check the facts before you "lie" to people.
I’m glad you’re up voted. The homeless problem in certain areas is so much more complex than people think. I tried helping a family member that came to me homeless and it was bad for everyone. Stolen things, cops bringing him home and drugs. It was a no win situation bc there was no answer. It’s sadly why many only get clean or mental help after jail or hospital stays. Try all you want it’s like trying to stop the wind
couldn't agree more!
I think it's fine if it's in front of doorways, but stuff like benches feels needlessly cruel to me.
I hate to say that but I do agree with Tony :(
You have a point tbh.
Agree ! Homeless dudes dont just need a “place to sleep”. They squat the area bringing all junk, used needles, smell of piss and what not with them.
Eh, many Uni students struggle financially, too.
University students and tourists binge drinking also squat areas and whole towns with their noise, smell of piss and vomits, and copulating in parks and corners, but as they have money people tolerate them, or even encourage them. People are a bunch of hypocrites!
Public spaces aren't the same as private homes. You're despicable.
I would upvote you more if I could!
It's not "discrimination". It's literally the opposite of that. It's not saying "These specific people can't......" it's putting everybody under the same rules. I GUARANTEE you hypocrites wouldn't like some strangers sleeping on your front porch every night.
Exactly.
Actually I used to encourage a homeless guy to sleep on my stoop in when I lived in SF. I was familiar with him and he chased off creeps that would harass my roommates and I.
Public spaces aren't private homes. False equivalency, Trumpanzee.
I work in social services. I work with the homeless. No, I wouldn't want to have someone living on my porch, I would, however, not chase them off with idiocy like this. I have conversations, I listen, I respect. I receive the same back. I don't have homeless on my porch, but I don't put spikes on them to chase them away, either. There are ways and there are ways.
I understand what you're saying, but not everyone has the time to have a conversation with a homeless person every time they come home. I lived in San Francisco for 18 years and I have had human feces on my outside stairs multiple times. With so many homeless people its just not possible to take the time to have a discussion with every one who is invading your space, even if you had the patience for it, and even if they had the mental capacity to have the conversation with you (they don't always).
Also, we have to bear in mind that these "wonders" (sarcastic) not only chase away homeless people, but every person who may need to rest for a minute. Some of them are even dangerous for any passer-by who may be unfortunate enough to fall on them by accident. There are more and more elderly people in developed societies, but our cities are becoming more and more inhumane for everybody who is not healthy, fit and young. I imagine my elderly parents, with their mobility problems, near these monstrosities, and I feel terrified. These things could seriously wound any person. Those who defend this kind of design should think they will be old one day. I hope they need somewhere to rest for a second and they can't find even a tiny place to sit down!
I have compassion, but as someone who cannot get to my apartment without being accosted by homeless people, without having to step over piles of trash and piles of shit from homeless people I can sympathize with the people who own the property, have to maintain the property and clean up after them. And by accosted, I do not mean begging for money, I mean threatening you for money, having them grab at your personal items, demanding you give them a ride somewhere. I promise this, none of you who complain about this have to daily pick up piles of shit left on your doorstep, have to mop up pools of urine and vomit every single day. Aren't afraid to let your kids go outside alone because they will be groped or verbally assaulted. Not every homeless person is this way, but like everything else in this world a few ruin it for everyone.
This is my experience too, in my small town Canadian neighbourhood. The problem is getting worse and worse and a huge chunk of it is the drugs are getting more and more addictive and making people more and more aggressive. I am tired of being threatened, hearing about my neighbours being threatened. I used to have a lot more compassion than I did, but the literal shit on the sidewalks and the needles everywhere and the threatening behaviour is doing me in.
What we need is help for the poor, not spikes and extra bench handles. Better policies, better approaches, and more programs. There will be more homelessness coming, not less, because of automation and other factors. UBI is one way to help this, there are others though.
The answer is housing for them. And if you're so disgusted by the problem, help resolve it.