When traversing Portland, OR, it’s common to see unexpected objects in public spaces, either along the side of the road, or on the sidewalk. The City of Portland has been using anti-houseless architecture to keep houseless people from occupying public spaces for years. Anti-houseless architecture is a style of architecture that’s purpose is to keep people from sleeping in public areas. This type of architecture is placed intentionally by cities to drive the houseless out of a populated area, leaving them to live in even more uncomfortable environments. This creates a prejudice against those trying to find a safe place and should never be considered as a solution. There are many different types of anti-houseless architecture to notice in Portland. Often, these structures can go unnoticed as they typically look harmless. For example, bike racks are turned to face out and placed far apart to take up more space on sidewalks, or cities have placed a middle railing on public benches, to keep people from sleeping on them. These examples are only a few of many counterproductive attempts that the city has made to end the houselessness crisis.
Laurelhurst Park, in southeast Portland, used to be one of the most heavily populated parks, with many houseless camps there. “The situation at the campsite was getting very dangerous,” says a concerned neighbor. Last year, the city acknowledged the problem but approached solutions in a neglectful way, without the intent to truly help the ones who need it. The city cleared the houseless camp, and only gave those staying there a week to relocate. The camps were replaced with amenities, like tennis courts and skate ramps. The reconstruction only averted from the real problem.
With the inflation rate of houses and affording basic needs, there doesn’t seem to be any solutions soon. In February, the Portland City Council spent $500,000 from its budget on benches that were designed to discourage houseless individuals from sleeping on them. Even though the whole spending package was $44 million, every penny counts. Despite considerable spending on shelters and other action to help the houseless crisis, the city’s houseless population continues to remain a visible problem due to the ineffective approach. According to Oregon Live, Portland has one of highest houseless rates in the U.S. The message that this type of architecture sends to Portlanders, with or without a house, is distasteful. It not only creates an environment where people are excluded, but also feeds into the stigma surrounding it.
No matter the design of an anti-houseless structure, its original purpose was to drive houseless individuals away, not help them. Of course, there are few instances where anti-houseless structures are essential; like near playgrounds, schools, and public transportation. The city uses the structures as a defense to keep certain public areas safe and available. What Portland doesn’t account for is where the houseless will go after being forced out.
There are so many different ways to handle this crisis. Houston, Texas, for example, had one of the best solutions for houselessness in America; the city adopted what’s called the Housing First Model, which cut over half of its houseless population. This model focused on getting houseless people into housing without having to meet certain criteria like sobriety or passing background checks. What works about this structure is the care that goes into it. With the Housing First Model, houseless individuals aren’t treated like a pest to brush off and are instead given a chance to reclaim their life.
Professor of Architecture at Portland State University, Director of The Center for Public Interest Design, and co-founder of The Homelessness Research Action Center, Sergio Palleroni, has seen examples of anti-houseless architecture all over Portland. He acknowledges the crisis, saying, “People came in because we have such a high quality of life, and it drove prices up but it drove a lot of people out.” Palleroni believes the main problem is trying to figure out how to manage the crisis. “We have to take a long term view, and work towards a long term solution, because nothing’s going to happen overnight.”
Anti-houseless architecture manages houseless people inhumanely. It’s becoming disturbingly normalized, with an increasing number of structures being placed around the world. This is not an issue unique to Portland, anti-houseless architecture is a worldwide problem. The best thing we can do, locally, is be aware of what the city is doing. As a Portlander who has lived here my whole life, I have seen an increasing number of hostile structures. Anti-houseless architecture is unfair to the people just trying to survive, and is a reflection of how our government is handling the houseless crisis.
