Gentrification is defined as ‘the process of renovating and improving a house or district so that it conforms to middle class taste’ (Dictionary.com). It can be a large endeavor with the potential to affect entire neighborhoods, or it can be a small act, such as putting spikes on trees to minimize bird droppings on expensive cars. Surprisingly, according to Dictionary.com, to gentrify is synonymous with improvement and refinement, but I would argue that our expression of gentrification to suit middle class tastes do not improve what’s already there; instead, this kind of behavior directly and disproportionately affects the poor and is particularly damaging to people experiencing homelessness. It also does not take into consideration the needs of people with disabilities. Instead, it pushes forward a mentality that is inconsistent with the lived experiences and needs of many people, particularly those of the most vulnerable.
The biggest issue with gentrification is that while it changes the way a space looks, it does nothing to address the issue at hand. Take, for example, homelessness. Homelessness is a complex social issue that is created by social inequality, a lack of affordable housing, unemployment, poverty, and a number of other factors. While hostile design can drive those looking for shelter elsewhere, it does not do anything to improve the quality of life, nor does it address any of the deep-rooted issues behind homelessness. Instead, it often puts those looking for shelter into even more dangerous situations, and further ostracizes them in the process.
You may have heard the recent story coming out of Florida, in which city officials tried to deter people from rest by playing ‘Baby Shark’. Armies use similar tactics. They’re called sonic attacks
This type of response to homelessness is telling of the larger social issue surrounding homelessness. Due to the fact that it seems like such a deep rooted, overwhelming issue, people are often at a loss at how they can even begin to tackle the issue. Gentrification is the ultimate Band-Aid solution in reducing homelessness. In fact, it can even act as the cause.
In Canada, one of the most prominent examples of gentrification is in Vancouver. Being blessed in natural beauty and culture, Vancouver has become a hot spot for developers to build luxury housing. However, these decisions often result in the displacement of lower income individuals. This is especially true in the lower East Side. In addition to the tangible, physical effects of housing instability or homelessness, there are serious social and mental health repercussions as well. Jeremy Stone, an instructor at the University of British Columbia’s urban planning department, explained “You have displacement, just like an evacuation during a disaster. You have trauma – people suffering from the loss of neighborhoods.” The displacement doesn’t end here – Zachary Hyde, a sociology PhD student at the University of British Columbia, writes about the effect of food on the downtown social ecosystem. Gentrification can be large-scale, policy changes, but it can also be micro-aggressions that further push lower-income individuals further to the outskirts.
So, what is the answer? Research has yielded many different solutions to homelessness that we’ve talked about here, such as building more affordable housing; implementing organizational changes; offering individuals financial support; amending policies to better protect against criminal behavior, and more. Ultimately, to prevent and reduce homelessness, governments, organizations and individuals must collectively implement a number of changes. However, one thing is for sure – playing ‘Baby Shark’ nonstop never did anyone any good.