gentrification: a cycle of displacement.

I believe that the relationship between gentrification and homelessness is incredibly complicated, and I think it often leads to a cycle of displacement. The attention of affluent home investors and encroachment of retail services may lead to improvements in infrastructure and quality of living, but in turn, also demand higher rents and housing values. As the cost of housing rises in low-income neighborhoods, residents are put at greater risk of falling victim to homelessness. This photo was taken directly across from the central building for the Parsons School of Design on West 13th Street and although I am not at all familiar (or even vaguely knowledgeable) on the area’s history, I can only assume that the coexistence of a homeless shelter and a higher education institution in a residential neighborhood did not occur without issues.

I would find it awfully ironic to learn that gentrification as one of the causes for homelessness also lead to the displacement of this homeless shelter. There is something extremely unfavorable found in living adjacent to homeless communities, as seen in one woman’s response to a “hip” East Williamsburg hostel operating as a shelter under the agency Project Renewal. Maritza Davila, who represents the area as assemblywoman, commented that she was furious, especially at how “there was no transparency — a disrespect for the community.” Although there are initiatives in place to evenly distribute shelters for the homeless as opposed to keeping them concentrated in certain areas, I find the responses of the communities to be extremely telling of those who benefit from gentrification, and what it can do to those left behind.