How Visibility Affects Those Experiencing Homelessness

"The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members." - Mahatma Gandhi

Whether people want to admit it or not: Homelessness, poverty, and the need for housing are severe problems in Auckland and Chicago. As a response to what I've been noticing and experiencing, I've been writing a post about 7 Differences and 7 Similarities between the 2 cities I've lived and worked in. After realising that writing this is going to be a long journey, I've decided to post each "difference" and "similarity" as separate posts, as well. 

Here's the 1st Difference: Just because homelessness can visibly look very different in different places, that doesn't negate the needs and trauma of those experiencing homelessness.

The magnitude, the sheer numbers, of those experiencing homelessness in plain sight are vastly different. In many ways, this is probably the most obvious. 

Kenneth is visible in this condensed crowded city called Chicago. Every night he hides under a blanket and tries to sleep on the noisy El train that travels from one side of the town to the other. Many more are doing the same, just in different carriages and trains. He has a host of fears but continues to hope. He's seen, he's forgotten, but he's there!

There's no way to dodge the reality of homelessness in Chicago. It's in your face wherever you go. When you catch a train in Chicago there are always plenty of seats taken by those without homes. Whenever I would walk to the lake from my home in Uptown, I would pass a row of occupied tents under the bridges. CCO, the homeless shelter I work for, is nearly always full. It's an everyday occurrence that someone asks for change or food. Those experiencing homelessness in the Windy City are always visible, they are "in sight" and "in mind".

There are many ways to dodge the reality of homelessness in Tāmaki Makaurau. This massive spread-out city with rolling hills, streams, and plenty of parks and trees, makes it easy to hide. People sleep under bridges but remain out of sight. Every night hundreds sleep in their vehicles, but most people would pass them without knowing. Apart from a few obvious areas like downtown where homelessness is quite visible, people are much more likely to remain "out-of-sight" and "out-of-mind".  

Rachel is invisible in this massively spread-out city called Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland, New Zealand). She tries to sleep in her car at a local petrol station every night. Many more are doing the same, just in different places and vehicles. She has a host of fears but also plenty of dreams. She isn't seen, she's forgotten, but she's there!

To read the other differences (and eventually the similarities), and to see the context of this particular piece, please go to Homelessness in Chicago VS Homelessness in Auckland!

My intent in writing these is to break barriers, create awareness, bring justice, and provide compassion for those who are some of society's most vulnerable members, for those experiencing homelessness.