Images of Homelessness

Dan B.
Brittany B.
Brittany V.

In this post we will be examining how homelessness is portrayed in mainstream America. We decided to examine this issue through one particular media type - Newspaper cartoons/comic strips.  Newspaper cartoons often depict sensitive issues such as homelessness and often focus on general stereotypes.  These following examples should provide a fairly solid idea of some of the problems and typical ideas related to homelessness in America. 

After looking through these pictures and others, several emerging themes began to arise. One of the overarching themes surrounding homelessness is the fact that many people without homes, and even the concept of homelessness in general is misunderstood by the general public.  As seen in several examples above, many of the homeless depicted are either ignored or looked down upon by the general population. A few such as the "ice sculpture" comic and the last comic with "Crisis" written on the papers reveal how even though these two populations are occupying the same everyday spaces, the problem of homelessness is invisible to many. 

Another theme that arose is summed up by the familiar catch phrase "Get a Job".  Many main stream Americans assume that people become homeless due to solely their own actions, and that they can get out of homelessness if they only tried a little harder.  The truth is, as stated in the Kellett and Moore article, that many people without homes are constantly seeking ways to get their own home again. The complications and struggles faced by someone without a home can be great, and really make it difficult to succeed and prosper in today's society.

 A final theme that emerges is how the homeless population are typically viewed. When not completely ignored by the public eye, the homeless are viewed in a very negative light.  Every face visible in the above cartoons has a beard and most are filthy with tattered clothes. Most figures are also represented in public places such as street corners, park benches, or ally ways, and are often begging for change. These traits represent the common depiction of a homeless person, and unfortunately many of these are often untrue.  Many of the homeless in America, and arguably the more "typical" homeless person can be found in either homeless shelters or hostiles, trying to find ways of improving their own situations. Also interesting to see is that every homeless person depicted in the cartoons are male.  This follows along with May, Cloke & Johnsen's article where they state how many homeless women are "politely ignored" by society.

 Our following AD campaign will attempt to change the way homelessness is viewed in our society, and show that the problem is much closer to home than many realize.

The goal of this campaign is to draw awareness on the fact that homelessness can happen to anyone. In today's world, it can be difficult to make a living, and homelessness isn't something experienced only by drug addicts or people who need to just "get a job". There's so much more to everyone's story, and homelessness can result from a variety of factors in one's life. Rollinson discusses a "new" homeless in his article "The Everyday Geography of the Homeless in Kansas City". He explains that the homeless population has shifted from mostly older men, to young men, women, and children.   Our campaign is designed to show the "new" homeless that Rollinson describes. It shows a couple outside of their home, smiling and holding a baby.  Next to them is a man and a little girl sitting on the ground. The man is holding a sign that reads "I used to be your neighbor". This helps to convey the message that homelessness could happen to anyone, even your neighbor living in a comfortable neighborhood. There are a variety of factors that can cause a person to end up without a home, and it's possible for it to happen to someone you know. Things like losing your job, getting a divorce, or suffering from mental illness are all events that can be traumatic, unexpected, or life-altering for most people. It is important to acknowledge that everyone has their story, and no two are alike. Our goal is to increase awareness of the realities of homelessness, and reduce the stigma associated with being homeless.

The Ad Council would most likely work to increase awareness and compassion for the homeless. There are many stereotypes associated with being homeless, and many of them are not accurate. Assuming that a homeless person is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or that they are too lazy to  support themselves are common misconceptions about the homeless. The Ad Council would work to educate the public about various reasons a person may become homeless. In addition, they would use our image to show that single parents with young children are increasing in their rate of homelessness. Perhaps the homeless man in our photo has a mental disability and cannot afford treatment, or doesn't want to leave his daughter? This doesn't mean that he is lazy, or just not trying hard enough. What he needs is help.  If we want these people to be contributing members to society, then it is important to determine what they need to get there. The Ad Council would work to convey this message, along with reducing the common misconceptions associated with homelessness.