Why Don't Homeless People Stay in Shelters?
Why would a homeless person choose to sleep on concrete over a place with a bed and a roof overhead? Emergency shelters, while helpful to many, aren't for everyone. Even though sleeping on the street is risky, there are many reasons why a person would refuse a shelter.
Benefits
While shelters do provide escape from the elements and hot meals, there are several benefits to avoiding a shelter and staying elsewhere. Homeless people who refuse shelter don't have to live in a concentrated population often filled with drugs, violence, and theft. People trying to stay clean will avoid shelters to stay away from drugs and dealers. Violence often erupts due to the wide mix of people living in an emergency shelter. In some shelters, mentally disabled people are housed with the general population and because many people don't know handle those with disabilities, fighting erupts. Theft is also common. Street sleepers don't have to deal with rules, angry staff members, or a large crowd of people.
Function
Some people avoid shelters because they're in a relationship and don't want to be separated from a significant other. Some family shelters only accept married couples or single parents with children. Women's and men's shelters respectively allow only women or only men---it doesn't matter if the person is in a relationship. Most shelters don't allow visitors due to confidentiality so if a couple decide to seek shelter, they'll have to plan on time apart. Pet owners also often refuse to stay in a shelter. It's rare for a shelter to accept pets, and many people don't want to be separated from their furry friend.
Considerations
Not all homeless shelters operate under a set of standards. In Ohio, shelters do have a basic set of recommended guidelines to follow---but these, according to the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, aren't something a homeless person could point to in the case of a conflict. Some cities are in the works of passing city legislation to mandate minimum standards for shelters.
Warning
People who avoid shelter are at risk of being targeted for physical violence. Attacks against homeless people by non-homeless individuals are on the rise. Teenagers, possibly in an attempt to recreate "Bumfights"---a show where homeless people are the target of physical stunts---are finding homeless people on the streets, beating and attacking them, and capturing it on videotape. People who sleep alone on the streets are especially at risk. If you see a person who refuses shelter, encourage him to sleep in a group---never alone. Street sleepers are also at risk of catching hypothermia in the winter. Outreach teams of medical professionals will visit people in the streets. It's crucial for outreach workers to maintain contact with street sleepers, for safety and medical reasons.
Potential
Some homeless advocacy coalitions, like the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, want more alternatives to be available to homeless people than just the street or a shelter. A pay-to-stay facility would provide a safe place to store valuables and get away for the night without having to conform to a set of rules. A drop-in center would serve as a place to get warm and escape the elements without providing beds like a traditional shelter. People could come and go as they please. With more options, there would be fewer people who would choose to sleep on cement.
Tags: homeless people, avoid shelters, choose sleep, Coalition Homeless, Homeless People, Homeless People Stay