Wealth - A dividing line

The world is richer than ever, and the gaps between rich and poor are wider - Anna Lindh

RICH AND POOR

The gap between the rich and poor expanding getting bigger by the day

But in a fair and just society things would never be this way
Those born into a poor family are forsaken by the gods
And if they wish to be successful they must fight against all odds.

In the slum parts of the city you will only see decay

Homes and gardens looking shabby everything look old and gray
Ninety per cent live off welfare and those with jobs work for low pay
And all would choose to be born elsewhere if in their births they had a say.

In the yuppies part of the city things are very different there
Brand new homes and well kept gardens, new cars they drive and new suits they wear
Children of affluent parents and advantaged from the start
The slum end only three miles distant seems a continent apart.

Life is hard and never easy for those from the slum parts of town
And it is hard to be successful with others trying to drag you down
Most employers do not want to know you your address your enemy
But do not count yourself a failure if you are born into poverty.

The gap between the rich and poor expanding getting bigger by the day
But in a fair and just society things would never be this way
Those who speak that all are equal in god's eyes are talking rot
For the people of the slum parts it would seem by god forgot. 

Francis Duggan

(i) The stark differences in wealth in our country is very difficult to overlook. This picture was taken in San Fernando while I was walking through Irving park, waiting on my brother from extra classes and these two houses just stood out to me. The big, pink concrete house had air condition, a new roof, proper guttering and was surrounded by a wall and gate. The other was an older, poorly maintained wooden house with broken windows, an old galvanise roof with holes and was enclosed by a “make shift” wall made of used galvanise and an old iron gate which was literally falling apart.  One so new and one so old, on both ends of the extreme. I wondered to myself, how do the people in the pink house feel about living next to people of a lower socio-economic class? How do the peple living in the old wooden house feel abo\out living next to people of a higher socio economic class? Do they really have a choice? Should they really be segregated? This sight is actually common throughout Trinidad, of course except in gated communities and exclusive high class areas.

Source: http://capitalismisover.com/census-finds-record-gap-between-rich-and-poor/

(ii) Globalization especially hurts the poor

Critics: Globalization is a process through which the rich get richer and the poor become poorer. A recent report by the World Bank on income disparities between households, found there was evidence that the gap between rich and poor is widening. Betweem 1988 and 1993, the poorest 5% lost almost 25% of their incomes whereas the incomes of the rickets 5% grew by 12%. More than 1 billion people (20%of the global population) live on less than $1 per day and this figure is increasing, whereas there are now 358 dollar billionaires and this elite club is likely to increase. The report concludes that the middle class in many developing countries is disappearing and the increasing gap between rich and poor in developing countries may lead to the collapse if nations.

Advocates: According to studies by economists from Harvard and the World Bank, it had been shown that increased export trade and engagement in the process of market liberalization have been the main factors in increasing wealth across the world. Over the past 40 years, the poor have benefited considerably in most countries and particularly in developing countries. Although sceptics refute this argument on the basis that regression analysis is too easily manipulated, advocates claim there is growing, irrefutable evidence to show that globalization has a net positive affect on the income of all, both the rich and poor, in all of those countries that have embraced the globalized market system. Advocates further argue that there has been no other system, which has achieved such rapid rates of poverty alleviation as this latest round of global market reform. Advocates concede that the notable exceptions to this rule are some of the African counties where growth is not evident and it is argued that this has been because governments have neither embraced market reforms nor supported globalization and their peoples have therefore been excluded from the benefits.

Disparities between rich and poor in Rio de Janeiro
Source : morgarruya.blogspot.com

References

Robbins, P. and R.S.B. Ferris.2003. The Impact of Globalization on the Agricultural Sectors of East and Central African Countries. Nigeria: IITA.

(iii) Here is some extra information which will help in understanding this topic:

Programmes the government implemented to help bridge the gap between the rich and poor: http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-07-22/Womanwise/wwise1.html

Enjoy this video thought it really captured the essence of this topic.

A place to call home :)

Most if the population of approximately 1.15 million persons in the island of Trinidad live in single family dwellings. 

(i) This neat little abode is located on Purcell Street in San Fernando. Its simplicity really caught my eyes and to me represented a typical single family house. Housing is a basic physiological need as well as important symbolically. Also adequate housing is a human right. The houses around the area had a similar layout with porch upstairs and a garage downstairs and most were two stories high. It looks like a flat house from this angle but there is another floor underneath on the sloping terrain. The interwoven panel fence conceals the tiny garage on the side of the house which possible allows about 2 cars to fit one behind the other. This home seems very comfortable and appears to provide this a basic household with the basic necessities for instance water and shelter. Where the dwelling is located can shape your access to resources. In this case it was located near many resources including San Fernando General Hospital, Naparima Girls High School, many pharmacies, bakeries and supermarkets. This prime location is in close proximity to most things and will be an ideal spot to live in. Think about your future house, what would it look like and where it may be located (also keep in mind that the price of land in this country is sky rocketing...).

Original Painting by Jill’s Dream on Etsy

(ii) Single family houses are more common in Trinidad and Tobago thanx townhouses or apartment buildings; however, in recent times the real estate developers have tended to construct more apartment complexes and townhouses. These are being provided with full security guard services. The type of dwelling within suburbs has been relatively uniforms until recently, with single family dwellings dominating. Key changes have been the incorporation of garages into these buildings as the ownership of motor cars has increased, and more recently a greater variety of dwelling types, including smaller homes and apartments, as the demographic structure of many western societies has changed to include more single-person households. Recent research has also begun to highlight processes and forms of adaptation to suburbs at the micro scale, including intensification of plot use through infill alterations to single family dwellings, including extensions and conversions to apartments (Hall and Barrett, 2012).

References

Hall, Tim, and Heather Barrett .2012. Urban Geography. London and New York: Routledge Publishing.

http://www.discover-tt.net/business/expatriate_living_culture_tourism.html

(iii) Additional Information

Opopune Housing Development – 54 single family homes in this community

http://www.udecott.com/index.php/cc/cc_project_item/oropune_housing_development/

New housing developments in Arima -

http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-02-28/bussguardian1.html

Construction Practices and Seismic Vulnerability: Typical Single Family Dwellings in Trinidad - http://cidbimena.desastres.hn/pdf/eng/doc6003/doc6003-contenido.pdf

Here is a short interview on investing in single family homes:

Living it Large

Luxury may possible contribute to give bread to the poor; but if there were no luxury, there would be no poor - Henry Home

(i) This photo was taken of “The Towers” in West Moorings which is a residential area in the West of the island of Trinidad and Tobago. This suburb consists of mainly upper middle class to upper class families and it’s generally known throughout the country for its upscale housing. These tall majestic towers stood out to be because of its high standards of design, facilities and services offered. I could only imagine the spectacular panoramic view of the city,mountains and the ocean that the residents enjoy. Located on the ocean front, each remarkably spacious residence will have a superb ensemble of contemporary living spaces incorporating every luxury one can desire. These exclusive buildings will be in high demand from the executives in the ever expanding energy sector in Trinidad. Some of the amenities include valet services, luxurious infinity edge swimming pool, well appointed gym and wellness centre, and 24 hour security.

(ii) Flagship projects of urban regeneration frequently include programmed of housing provision or renovation. Waterfront developments typically use the legacy of distinctive architecture and original features, converting them into, for example luxury housing. Again, they are aimed at luring professionals. This accommodation does nothing to solve housing and accommodation crises among the local poor populations, who are unable to take advantage of these developments. Housing developed in association with such projects of urban regeneration tends to be inappropriate to local populations on a number of counts. First, it is far too expensive. The majority, often 80 per cent, of this housing is owner-occupied (Hall 2006).

References

Hall, Tiim. 2006. Urban Geography 3^rd Ed. New York: Routledge Publishing.

Luxury Apartments in Trinidad

Source: TrinidadRealtor.com

(iii) Here are some links which may interest you:

Luxury Apartments Tower by Orange Architects:

http://www.urukia.com/beirut-luxury-cube-tower-orange-architects/

Landmark Luxury Apartment Building designed by Swiss architects

http://www.designbuzz.com/beirut-terraces-landmark-luxury-apartment-building-salutes-lebanese-optimism/

The Renaissance at Shorelands

Abandoned Houses

Abandoned House

Abandoned house standing in the overgrown path
with faded gray sideboards,
that were once bright white with life

Shutters hanging at awkward angles,
flapping in the wind,
banging against the house with creaking determination.

Darkened dusty windows
looking sad and lonely,
yet forbidding entry to passersby,

Door hanging ajar on its hinges,
as if the last exit was in haste.
Sagging roof with missing tiles,
handing gutter proof of neglect for many years.

Rotted porch,
sagging downward
with scattered broken furniture,
covered with cobwebs and debris.

Life has come and life has gone.
Time has gone by
with no one to tend it,
happiness in its past,
for it will never feel love again

By: Anne Crawford

(i) While driving I immediately recognised that something was amiss. I took this picture in San Fernando in the heart of the city. My eyes became so accustomed to seeing newly refurbished buildings, huge concrete structures as well as glass buildings that this old bedraggled house really caught my attention. It was surrounded by other buildings at the other extreme of its nature and seemed very “out of place” for a lack of a better term. The unpainted two story wooden structure was in such a deplorable and decrepit state; almost as if a strong breeze blew it would topple over. The aged dwelling has old and rusty galvanize and broken and rickety windows. The structure is overtake by grass and is enclosed by a ramshackle fence and rickety gate. It is no longer in a livable condition for people but seems great for stray dogs.  There is something so sad about an abandoned house, you cannot help but think of the waste, or of the happy times once spent there. These abandoned buildings should be turned into something more useful instead of occupying prime land in the city. Regeneration of these old areas will be changing the face of the urban.

(ii) Gentrification can be broadly defined as ‘the transformation of a working-class or vacant area of the central city into middle-class residential and/or commercial use’ (Lee et al. 2008: xv). Drawing on Marxist understandings of the city, Smith (1996) has argued that gentrification occurs where a ‘rent gap’ exists, which is the disparity between the potential rents that could be commanded by dilapidated inner city properties or vacant land when redeveloped and the actual; rents being obtained. Where significant gap opens up as a result of inner city decline, it becomes profitable for developers to buy up properties cheaply, refurbish them and sell them on for a significant profit. However, critics of this perspective note that while rent gaps exist in many cities and city areas, not all become gentrified, so suggesting that other factors are important in these processes. David Ley (1996) points to the importance of the emergence of a new middle- class or creative class (Florida 2004) in many cities, linked to the growth of producer service jobs and cultural industries within these cities. These groups seek lifestyles different to the conformity of the suburbs and are drawn to diverse and vibrant cultural opportunities available in urban centres, seeking to live close to these opportunities and therefore leading to the gentrification of inner city neighbourhoods. Also gentrification may be facilitated through the actions of local urban managers and policies, where gentrification is championed as a key component of the urban renaissance ambitions of those cities seeking to revive their fortunes (Lees 2003; Wyly and Hammel 2005).

References:

Hall, Tim, and Heather Barrett .2012. Urban Geography. London and New York: Routledge Publishing.

(iii) Take a look at some of this additional information:

Abandoned buildings to come down by order of mayor of Port-of-Spain:
http://guardian.co.tt/news/2011/02/01/abandoned-buildings-come-down

Have a listen to this song on abandoned houses (can play while reading blog to put you in that frame of mind J)

Public Housing - A Chance For All

(i) While driving along the Lady Young Road, trying to avoid the city’s traffic, I spotted these apartment buildings. They seemed so mundane and depressing. I thought to myself, how do the residents of these apartments feel about their dwellings? You can see if you look closely that in an effort to beautify their small outdoor space, the porch, they hung potted plants, colourful flowering plants, decorative lights and painted the limited wall space in different colours. These low income housing cater for citizens of the lower-socio economic class (low annual household income) including those who cannot afford their own homes at present or those who want some sort of independence from their families. There are many such housing programs that are privately, state, or federally operated and funded. The purpose of it is to provide places for people to live at a reasonable cost for them to afford.

Source: http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?t=42140

(ii) This economic exclusion is translated into exclusion from many areas of city life. This underclass consists of both waged and unwaged poor, a disproportionally high number of members of ethnic minorities, and groups such as sick, elderly or disabled people and single parents. It has been argued that social polarisation has increased as a result of both international economic trends and recent government policy. This social polarisation has had an impact upon the spatial structure of cities. Areas such as inner-city areas and peripheral council housing estates have become equated with the presence of this urban underclass. These pockets of deprivation contain a number of groups who are surplus to the requirements of the formal urban economy. These areas are characterised by the prevalence of ‘alternative’ or ‘twilight’ economies run on an informal or illegal basis.

The principle of design for beauty and enrichment is too seldom used in the design of housing for low-income families. This is because of poverty of imagination, not shortage of money. It is not always easy to know what constitutes beauty or decoration for people who have been ground down by poverty. In some countries the first outlet of a person wanting something ‘more’ or ‘pretty’ may be to plant flowers or vines. In other countries delicate and elaborate designs are painted on the front of the home with rice flour paint. In Trinidad, local artists make murals and sculptures for buildings (Bell 1972).

References:
Bell, Gwen. 1972. Human identity in the urban environment. London: Butler and Tanner Ltd.

(iii) Here is some additional information to take a look at:

The Government focusing on affordable housing:
http://news.co.tt/public_html/article.php?story=20101124100829993

The delivery of low income housing communities in Trinidad and Tobago:
http://uwispace.sta.uwi.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2139/3108/GlennMahabirsingh_Dip.pdf?sequence=1

This video is based on how public housing transformed New York city

Stay tuned for more!

‘Slums of despair’ or ‘Slums of hope’

Barriada - Peruvian-Spanish 

 favela - Brazilian  

colonia proletaria - Mexican 

 rancho - Venezuelan

Each country has its own term, not only in Latin America but in all regions where the rate of urbanization has overwhelmed planning and building legislation and where cities are plunging into an even greater chaos than those of the already urbanized and industrial world. 

(i) This picture was taken while driving (since it’s very dangerous to stop) of a house in Beetham Gardens, along the Beetham Highway in East Port of Spain. It is an informal settlement within the city of Port of Spain that has inadequate housing and squalid, miserable living conditions. It is overcrowded, with many people crammed into very small living spaces.  It was very difficult to capture the dwellings properly, not only because of the fact that I could not risk stopping but the houses were all blocked off by a wall which was constructed by the government to block off the eyesore from foreign dignitaries visiting our country. Fortunately I captured this house which gives an idea of some of the houses in the area but in reality the majority of houses are in a much worse condition. The entire stretch of houses was such a disheartening, saddening and disenchanting sight. They were all very tiny, wooden houses with poorly maintained roofs, made old or used galvanise covered in rust or holes, not secured properly. Some houses are unpainted, dirty, run down and piles of rubbish can be seen everywhere. There is no proper sanitation or ventilation in the area for these people living in such deplorable conditions. These houses are inhabited by poor people or those in the lower socio economic class. If one is asked to think about Beetham or Laventille, automatically the idea of high rates of poverty and employment and the breeding center for many social problems such as crime, drug addiction, alcoholism, and despair pop into your head. This is not just an assumption but a fact, as highlighted and reinforced on news every single day. All slums are not the same, and some provide better living conditions than others. Likewise, slum dwellers are not a homogeneous population, but a diverse group of people with different interests, means and backgrounds. Slums are also a significant economic force. In many cities, as much as 60 percent of employment is in the informal sector of the urban population.

(ii) Stokes (1962) characterized these areas as either ‘Slums of depair’ or ‘Slums of hope’ refecting opposing views as to whether squatter housing is a burden or a benefit to the urban poor. Globally, the scale of the problem is enormous with the United Nations estimating that over one billion reside in sub-standard and insecure accommodation with no services (UN HABITAT 2003). The presence of large informal housing areas has been a long-standing feature of rapidly urbanizing areas, particularly the mega cities of the Global South (Gilbert 2000; UN Habitat 2003). Within these cities, considerable unmet low-cost housing demand exists as a result of the rapid population increases these cities experience. However, the limited and precarious income earing opportunities that exist in these cities mean that many poorer households are unable to obtain a high enough income to afford to access the restricted formal housing opportunities available. Consequently, for many, the only option is the informal or popular housing sector. The attitude of governments and development organizations to the presence of squatter settlements has varied considerably, ranging from hostility, to suppression, to toleration and occasional support (Pacione 2009). Negatively, the continuance of squatter settlements as home to many urban dwellers highlights the chronic economic problems faced by poor urban populations, marginalizing these groups within the city and trapping them in poverty.

Key features of the ‘classic’ socio- economic models of the so-called ‘Third World city’ are the presence of large areas of low status squatter settlement housing or the edges of the city, with higher status enclaves remaining in the core of the city, often now gated residential developments (Pacione 2009). This division stems from the stark socio- economic inequalities in these urban populations, high rates of immigration into these primate urban centres from poorer rural hinterlands and the lack of housing provision in economies that are still relatively poor in global terms, frequently still in dependant relationships with the major post-industrial economies. (Hall and Barrett, 2012)

A view of dilapidated houses on Laventille hill which overlooks the city
Source: http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2007-10-23/bussguardian1.html

The Economic Meaning of Slums to Slum Dwellers

If one is to attack the problems of slums from the point of view of their occupants, and prepare plans that meet their economic and social conditions, it is necessary to examine the benefits that slum dwellers derive from the very fact that they live in slums. These benefits arise from four conditions: lack of legal and social controls; the low rents of low housing costs; proximity to the heart of the city where job opportunities are concentrated; and recourse to the traditional security that exists where persons live in natural groups, nationality, religion, or caste. The lack of controls permit the slum dwellers (all over the world) to do what he pleases in and with his dwelling. It permits him to build a makeshift dwelling. It permits him to use his dwelling as a shop or his shop as a dwelling. He and his family can sleep in the rear of the shop, or, pushing aside the equipment, sleep in it. This arrangement, of course, reduces his rent .Bell, Gwen. 1972. Human identity in the urban environment. London: Butler and Tanner Ltd.

Social Investments in Slum Improvement Schemes
The advantages of slum improvement as a method of urban development are many:

1. It keeps the families close to whatever jobs they had, including a large supply of low-grade jobs, while encouraging their desire for advance.
2. It does not destroy the social structure either of families or of larger groups.

3. It is the most intensive course in urbanization with regard to standards of urban living, relationship to Government and the way of finding an individual role in a vast and anonymous city.
4. It gives this course in urbanization to people living close to the sources of advancement, the stimulus and incentives for advance that are inherent in the city.
There are, however, some specific social investments that must be made to assure that full value will be received from the program. Bell, Gwen. 1972. Human identity in the urban environment. London: Butler and Tanner Ltd.

References:

Hall, Tim, and Heather Barrett .2012. Urban Geography. London and New York: Routledge Publishing.

Bell, Gwen. 1972. Human identity in the urban environment. London: Butler and Tanner Ltd.

(iii) Here is some additional information:

On the wall blocking off Beetham Garden which caused much controversy:

http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2008-10-19/news3.html

On the state of the poor in Trinidad;
http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2007-10-23/bussguardian1.html

This video gives an insight on the depressed like of slum dwellers:

Look pon di gully side

Do you see anything fi smile bout

Look at that hungry child

Do you see anything fi smile bout

Look at the school weh deh youth dem go fi get dem education

Do you see anything fi smile bout

Look at the conditions of our police stations

Do you see anything fi smile bout

Also you can look at this award winning movie Slumdog Millionnaire. It is about a Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" He is arrested under suspicion of cheating, and while being interrogated, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers.

I would like to sincerely thank Avinash Singh for being my chauffeur for the day and taking me around the city to capture dwellings of every kind! Thank you! <3  

City of Towers

This photo was taken of the multi apartment buildings, Olera Heights on Circular Road, San Fernando. The Olera Heights Housing Development was constructed by UDeCOTT in order to fulfil the Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s vision to provide affordable housing to the citizens of this southern city, while at the same time not sacrificing comfort and quality. The most significant trend in the design of urban housing in the last fifty years, from a social point of view, has been the steady reduction of dwelling space and the intensification of building use. The trend has been forced by the rising cost of construction and increased competition for land. I believe the design of the space outside the dwelling units; corridors, lobbies, grounds and non  dwelling facilities, was poorly designed. Most housing projects seem designed to minimize or to prevent accidental and casual communication between people and the informal gathering of people. 

The Olera Height dwellers may have certain needs:

•  There is the need for exercise by children, teenagers and adults and the more limited the space within the dwelling the more desperate the need.
• There is the need for some sunshine and fresh air.
• There is the need to just get ‘out’, especially mothers with small kids, children and old people.
• There is the need to somewhere like shops or church etc.
• There is the need to do some household chores which would be much better done outside or it may not be done indoors, like washing your car, drying clothes etc.

Source: http://www.123rf.com/photo_6165820_urban-planning-background-concept-glowing-light-effect.html

A key vision which had a considerable impact on twentieth century urban planning was that of the ‘city of towers’ proposed by the Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier. He proposed an ideal for the ‘good city’ which would address the perceived problems of nineteenth century urbanization. His work can also be seen as a reaction to the problems of congestion and slum housing in early twentieth century Paris, the city he lived and worked in for most of his life. Corbusier developed his planning principles in two key visions: Contemporary City (1922) and the Radiant City (1933). His paradoxical solution to the problems of the crowded, disorganized by city was to decongest cities by increasing their density, also to improve circulation by increasing the amount of open space and by careful geometrical design.  Corbusier’s views on urban planning were therefore quite authoritarian; he believed that the design of cities was too important to be left to the people and that schemes designed by experts should be imposed from the top-down (Hall and Barrett 2012).

 'Radient City' by Le Corbusier
Source: http://journal.davidbyrne.com/2005/12/france_le_corbu.html

In multi-story apartment buildings, visibility has been achieved in some housing developments by the construction of wide exterior corridors. They provide outdoors-upstairs areas for the convenience and pleasure of everyone: a place to sun the baby, dry clothes, get small children out from under foot without taking them downstairs, or a place for the adults to sit out in the fresh air. Single- family or row house developments have achieved it by arranging the row of dwellings or the single family houses in the shape of a three-sided rectangle (Bell 1972).

The process of planning should make articulate what it is that people want and need and what space provisions should be made. The pride and warmth of feeling that come when members of a community have beautified their own home are basic to the creation of social community (Bell 1972).

References:

Hall, Tim, and Heather Barrett .2012. Urban Geography. London and New York: Routledge        Publishing.

Bell, Gwen. 1972. Human identity in the urban environment. London: Butler and Tanner Ltd.

Image by Elizabeth Richards

A view of Olera Heights in its entirety 

This link gives an insight into the Olera Heights Housing Development - http://www.udecott.com/index.php/cc/cc_project_item/olera_heights_housing_development/

This is another link showing problems which plague the Olera Heights complex - http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-09-04/news6.html

Also here is a You Tube video on urban planning:

Another video on Le Corbusier’s Radiant City plan:

  

Nirvana

Homelessness - No where to go....

Homelessness is not, in general, a political movement; it is reasonable to assume that most of the actions of homeless people are simple strategies of survival (Cresswell, 1996)

As I walked down High Street in San Fernando, camera in hand, scouting for vagrants, an unprovoked, untidy and soiled vagrant suddenly attacked a vehicle driving down the street. The angry driver stopped his vehicle; the clearly unstable man violently charged the car and began kicking the driver’s car door, Jet Li style. Thank God that there were two armed police officers nearby, who intervened and saved the vagrants from being beaten by the driver and his companion. This scenario is not unusual to the country’s capital city and other urban areas. Luckily I was a safe distance away and quickly disappeared into my parent’s vehicle, unfortunately I was in too much shock to record it and much less take pictures. However, on Court Street, I managed to discretely capture this shot, without awaking the homeless man, in order to prevent provoking him. I saw many other homeless people that day, not as crazy as the first, instead begging on the sidewalks, lying in cardboard boxes and like this man in the picture lying calmly as if without a care in the world. As I see the sad and depressed looks on their faces, my heart went out to them and a feeling pity and despair overwhelmed me. I just wish I could give them all a home and a place to shelter, seek refuge and a feeling of a sense of security.

Housing is an important determinant of personal security, comfort, wealth and status and ownership of housing can also be important in structuring access to other scarce resources within the city such as employment opportunities, education and healthcare facilities. However, it is clear that the ability of people to secure a home in the city is highly unequal, with the problems of lack of access to adequate and affordable housing for many urban dwellers most starkly illustrated in the world’s biggest cities in the form of homeless people on the streets (Hall and Barrett 2012).

Globally, the scale of the problem is enormous with the United Nations estimating that over 100 million people lack any home (UN HABITAT 2003). The presence of homeless people on the streets of a city is a highly visible manifestation of housing affordability problems. Homelessness is an issue for cities of both the Global North and South; within cities of the Global South the presence of large numbers of homeless people on the streets has been an enduring concern, while in the Global North although numbers are lower they have increased significantly in recent years (Daly 2008; Pacione 2009). Broadly speaking the homeless are those who cannot afford shelter by themselves and most often consist of marginalized groups such as unemployed, recent migrants, substance abusers, mentally ill people, ethnic minorities, battered women, runaway youths and street children (Gottdiener and Budd 2005).

A photo I took of a vagrant ironically and smartly sitting at the entrance of Royal Bank of Canada on High Street San Fernando. Ironically because this man has no money while the bank is the epitome of capital and smartly since he knows that people will be exiting the bank with money and may have enough to spare him some. 

The causes of homelessness are as diverse as those people who are homeless and are the result of a combination of personal and structural factors. Key structural factors which have resulted in increased homelessness are global economic changes, leading to increased migration and unemployment, decline in welfare help as a result of rolling back the state and deindustrialization of groups such as the mentally ill, linked to welfare changes (Dear and Wolch 1987; Daly 2008). Attitudes to the presence of homeless populations is highly variable between city authorities, ranging from hostility and forced removal to more compassionate strategies of providing shelter and support. However, recent research into the nature of homelessness and homeless populations has stressed that the problem needs to be viewed through the eyes of the homeless, otherwise there is a concern that strategies in place will fail to meet the needs of homeless groups (Daly 2008; De Verteuil et al. 2009).

Hall, Tim, and Heather Barrett .2012 Urban Geography. London and New York: Routledge Publishing.

Here are some articles on

• Politicising vagrancy http://www.guardian.co.tt/businessguardian/2011/11/02/politicising-vagrancy
  
  Vagrancy is not suitable for a major city in our country which is focusing on rising through development. Hopefully it will soon be minimized since the Ministry of the People has introduced a programme to help these homeless people and re-integrate them into society. 

• Helping the Homeless - http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,131140.html
• Getting involved to help the homeless - http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Let_s_get_involved_to_help_the_homeless-183666651.html?m=y&smobile=y#

Here is a video entitled -Homelessness - No where to go........Food for thought...

See you soon!

Nirvana