Samira Kawash

Homelessness

A condition where individuals lack stable, secure housing and often experience exclusion from public spaces.

Placelessness

A key aspect of homelessness characterized by individuals lacking a permanent place to inhabit, leading to a state of nonexistence in public spaces.

Urban renewal

The process of redeveloping urban areas, which can lead to gentrification and the displacement of marginalized communities, including the homeless.

Public space

Areas that are accessible to everyone, where the presence of the homeless challenges societal norms and perceptions.

Exclusion technologies

Mechanisms and policies used to keep marginalized groups, such as the homeless, out of public spaces.

The homeless body

A term used to describe the physical manifestation of homelessness and its societal implications, marking the individual as both present and excluded.

Gentrification

Economic and social process where wealthier individuals move into a previously lower-income neighborhood, often displacing existing residents, particularly marginalized groups.

Cycle of dispossession

A series of losses (job, home, relationships) experienced by homeless individuals, leading to their narrowed existence focused on survival.

War on the homeless

A term describing aggressive policies and practices aimed at removing homeless individuals from public spaces.

Social tension

The discomfort and unease felt in the presence of the homeless, reflecting societal attitudes towards their existence.

Body as a symbol

The physical presence of the homeless as a representation of societal exclusion and the limitations imposed on them in public life.

Public discourse

The conversation surrounding societal issues, often reflecting biases that define homelessness as a personal failure rather than a systemic issue.

Violence against the homeless

The policies and practices that justify exclusion and aggression towards homeless individuals in the name of public safety.

Temporary refuge

Shelters that provide a place to stay for homeless individuals but often come with regulations and unsafe conditions.

Collective response

The unspoken agreement among subway riders to avoid proximity to the homeless, highlighting societal avoidance.

Invisible barrier

The unoccupied seats around the homeless individual in public spaces that symbolize exclusion without overt actions.