Oral Presentations - Session 2A: UC 326
The Visibility of Homelessness in Missoula
Presentation Type
Presentation
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Daisy Rooks
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Sociology
Abstract / Artist's Statement
When people experiencing homelessness are seen sleeping in public places, rather than at a shelter such as the Poverello Center, the question of “why” is posed. By analyzing ethnographic field notes documenting 36 hours of participant observation, I will explain why homelessness is visible in Missoula. I will focus on three reasons that people experiencing homelessness sleep outdoors in Missoula: permanent outs from the Poverello Center, lack of access to affordable hotel rooms, and the lure of autonomy and freedom the North Reserve Street camps provide. By examining why some people without homes opt not to stay at the Poverello Center, I will demonstrate that a public street may be the safest, most cost effective place to sleep in Missoula for some people experiencing homelessness.
Category
Social Sciences
The Visibility of Homelessness in Missoula
UC 326
When people experiencing homelessness are seen sleeping in public places, rather than at a shelter such as the Poverello Center, the question of “why” is posed. By analyzing ethnographic field notes documenting 36 hours of participant observation, I will explain why homelessness is visible in Missoula. I will focus on three reasons that people experiencing homelessness sleep outdoors in Missoula: permanent outs from the Poverello Center, lack of access to affordable hotel rooms, and the lure of autonomy and freedom the North Reserve Street camps provide. By examining why some people without homes opt not to stay at the Poverello Center, I will demonstrate that a public street may be the safest, most cost effective place to sleep in Missoula for some people experiencing homelessness.