Tent Cities in America: A Reality We Must Face

When we switch on the evening news, we are not horrified to see global images of masses of people living in tents or some resemblance to tents in foreign, often developing countries. Refugee camps, people displaced by natural disasters or those stricken by poverty have been living in tents and makeshift houses since the beginning of time. However, this could not possibly happen in America could it? Well, the reality is that it has happened and does happen with increasing regularity. Tent cities in America are springing up all over the place in response to a staggering economy. The recession forced more that 2 million people into homelessness, many who have been homeless since the economy took a down turn four years ago. For these people, home is now a piece of synthetic material held up by poles and stakes.

 

Americas Largest Tent City

In Sacramento California, where people once gathered to find gold, a tent city, full of homeless people continues to grow. It is said that shelters in the Sacramento area are full to the brim and turning people away. People are pitching their tents with other in similar circumstances in hopes of buying some time to figure out a life plan. Inhabitants of the Sacramento tent city are regular” middle-classed Americans who have been displaced by a fractured economy. First they lost their job, than their car and then finally their home. One of the largest tent cities in this area numbers more than 1500 inhabitants. These people are living without septic, running water or electricity. California is not the only state with tent cities. Virtually every state in the country has some kind of tent city, even some of the coldest places where people are living in severe weather conditions all year long.

 

Life in a Tent City

Mark moved to a tent city outside a sprawling suburb about eight months ago. He states that he had a decent job but when his company downsized he lost all he had. He struggled for a while, paying his bills with his retirement money, but that did not last long. Eventually, he found himself amongst the homeless, standing in line at the soup kitchen and waiting for a bed at the local shelter. Wanting something more stable, Mark bought a tent and joined fifty other people in a nearby tent village. He states that most days the “Village” is quiet and most people just want to be left alone. Sometimes it is loud and sometimes there is a lot of drinking, drugs and fighting. Tension is high amongst a group of people living in such compromised situations. Most people, says Mark, come and go but some have been here a very long time. There is no electricity or running water, and most take showers at the local YMCA about three miles away. Mark sends out resumes by day and spends most of his time at the public library or the YMCA where he tries to maintain some semblance of normalcy. His hope is that he will land a job soon and be able to move from his tent back into an apartment. Unemployment checks are just not enough to pay for rent and soon it too will be gone.

 

About the Author: Susan Patterson is a freelance writer with a passion for the homeless. She recently conducted a research study where she assessed the impact that information and referral system software has on the ability for social services to reach out to more people effectively.