Homeless in "San'do"

“We have come dangerously close to accepting the homeless situation as a problem that we just can't solve.”  Linda Lingle

...but what is homelessness?

The definition of homelessness continues to be debated. The definition of homelessness continues to be debated. It is defined my many as the “lack of housing or stable dwelling, the absence of shelter on any given night, or life on the streets and in emergency shelters.” In a broader definition it includes “those individuals living in flophouses, shelters, missions and in overcrowded conditions. It is clear from these definitions that the notion of homelessness spans a continuum of deprivation, from life on the streets to overcrowded housing.”(Takahashi, 1996)

Homeless man Laying on street corner reading a book

Photo taken by Rachel Cadogan on 

04-02-15

Contrary to popular opinion, most homeless people in Trinidad and Tobago do not choose to be homeless. Homelessness is therefore an accidental condition. As a matter of fact, homeless individuals may be victims. Victims of poverty, adult abuse, child abuse, mental institutions, prison, children’s homes and violence perpetrated against them. (Grant, 2008). In Trinidad and Tobago, “The street-dweller population grew by 13.4 per cent over the decade 2000 to 2011.” (Guardian Newspaper, 2012). 

Homeless men sleeping on Harris Promenade

Photo taken by Rachel Cadogan on -

04-02-15

Besides the usual ideas (drugs, poverty and mental illness) of what causes people to become homeless, the affordability of housing is becoming a crisis means fewer people are able effectively to compete in an increasingly competitive housing market. At a basic level, a shrinking housing supply for low- and moderate-income households, rising housing costs, a changing demographic profile and a downward trend in real wages have intensified the pressures for affordable shelter forcing many to turn to the streets. (Takahashi, 1996)  In a story in the newspaper “Pregnant, homeless in Cocoyea” She, her three children and unborn child currently lives in an abandoned, unsecured house furnished with only a mattress. They camped out in front of the Housing Developing Corporation’s (HDC) head office on South Quay, Port-of-Spain, begging for homes. After spending the night on the Brian Lara Promenade in Port-of-Spain with their four children, the women also took their plight outside Parliament, those efforts were not successful.(Guardian, 2014) Click to read more

Homeless with 3 children and a baby on the way
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-06-30/pregnant-homeless-cocoyea

Life on the Streets, it's not easy

Most people are fortunate enough never to have to experience homelessness, maybe that's why they are invisible or taken as a joke by passerbys. May young people find it funny and entertaining  to pick on them, call them names and record them doing silly things

Living on the streets might not be as easy as one thinks, a life of ultimate freedom, with no responsibilities. Many homeless people live in a state of  fear of being attacked, abused, robbed or moved on.The only source of food for a  typical homeless person is by  scavenging in garbage bins and bags and if lucky, eating or drinking discarded food and drinks, panhandling for money or food, sleeping, sitting or lying on the pavement especially on Harris Promenade around St Joseph Convent, King’s Wharf, at but bus stop, to the bottom of Mucurapo Street and almost any corner for that matter. (Grant, 2008)

In a recent case in San Fernando, a homeless may was robbed and murdered (Express, 2015)

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Dealing with Homelessness

“There are now 210 homeless people on the streets of San Fernando, almost double the number from six years ago.” (Express Newspapers, 2014)

This can be done through the process of home-making. Homelessness is traumatic, stressful, and alienating. An institutional system needs to be set up to deal with homeless

people offer them  protection from the elements and supports the creation of a home for them. Resettlement services in general have become increasingly important in responding to homelessness. Resettlement does no involve the acquisition of   home-making skills, but about making them feel as though they are in the right place.(Rivlin and Moore, 2001)

In order to deal with the issue of homelessness, the San Fernando City Corporation opened a 16-cot shelter for street dwellers which would provide overnight accommodation. It is hoped that this 16-cot facility would  be adequate to provide some relief to these individuals. Since there are now 210 homeless people on the streets of San Fernando, almost double the number from six years ago.(Express, 2013, 2014)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Express (2013, May 30). Helping homeless is no easy task. Trinidad Express. Retrieved March, 28 2015 from  http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Helpinghomeless-isno-easy-task-209599901.html

Grant T, 2008. The reality of homelessness in Trinidad. Retrieved March 28, 2015 from http://www.catholicnews-tt.net/archives/08/08/03/viewpoint.htm.

Kowlessar  G (2012, June 19). More people living on streets—census. Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Retrieved March, 28 2015 from http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-06-18/more-people-living-streets%E2%80%94census

Mohammed S, (2015, January 6). Homeless man dies in chopping. Trinidad Express. Retrieved March 28, 2015 from http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Homeless-man-dies-in-chopping-287729161.html

Rivlin G.and Moore J., 2001. Home-Making: Supports and Barriers

to the Process of Home.  Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, Vol. 10, No. 4. 

Santoo S (2014, June 25). 210 homeless in San Fernando. Trinidad Express. Retrieved 28, 2015 from http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/210-homeless-in-San-Fernando-264562671.html

Takahashi L, 1996. A decade of understanding homelessness in the USA: from characterization to representation.  Progress in Human Geography 20,3 pp 291-300.

Wayow S, (2013, May 28). New homeless shelter in San Fernando.  Trinidad Express. Retrieved March 28, 2015 from http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/New-homeless-shelter-in-San-Fernando-209274081.html