Yule Heibel's Library tagged homelessness →  View Popular, Search in Google

An undoubtedly frightening article (or rather: an article reporting a frightening reality).
QUOTE
"The whole face of homelessness is changing, and a lot of that has to do with unemployment," says Craig Billman, who was Michele's case manager when she arrived at Maple Street and is now associate program director at the facility. "People from the professional ranks are becoming more prevalent. You're seeing more first-time homeless than ever before."

That this is happening here, in the crucible of high-tech affluence, is a testament to the fact that it is happening almost everywhere in the country, part of a wave of suburban poverty that began in the 1990s and has accelerated since the beginning of the Great Recession.
UNQUOTE

silicon_valley homelessness unemployment economy depression usa recession

Provocative post from Daily Conversions about "split testing," in this case using a real live example (not a website): a man who is homeless and panhandling unsuccessfully for change gets a "make-over" to increase participation (and donations) from the passers-by on the street.

daily_conversions homelessness marketing split_testing

"Money hasn't saved Canada's most blighted neighbourhood, the drug-infested Downtown Eastside. Resources aren't wanting; it's estimated that $1-million is shovelled into the area every day to pay for myriad services and examples of social housing not seen in other communities. "

Interesting indictment of the poverty industry, too.

vancouver housing affordable_housing homelessness social_disorder

Blog post by Chris Keam about a design project called "Homes for Less," done by students at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design and at the University of British Columbia's Centre for Advanced Wood. The students had to create homes (compact) that could be built for under $1500. The results were on view on Granville Island (till 11/14/08).

One thing that strikes me with these microhomes - and the ones built by the Madhousers group - is that they would be claustrophobic (literally) for some of the hardcore homeless. In that regard, the "Stop-Gap housing" proposal by Vancouver architect Henriquez seems better, insofar as his proposed modular homes could be customized to leave one side completely open to nature/ outside. This is preferred by some people, especially those who need a transition period to get back into the idea of living within 4 walls.

homelessness affordable_housing microhomes ecuad vancouver

Article published in Seattle-based Crosscut about an initiative out of Vancouver to build "Stop Gap Housing" (as per architect Gregory Henriquez), essentially fixed mobile/modular homes, for people who are homeless. Article continues over 2 pages.

homelessness vancouver housing affordable_housing modular british_columbia crosscut