Homeless Culture & Nomadic Urbanism: from Car Living to Couch Surfing

An estimated 100 million people worldwide are “homeless” … but what is homelessness? Is a squatter homeless? What about someone who stays in a shelter each night? A Web Urbanist article on creatively designed homeless dwellings sparked a lively debate on this subject, which ended up being far longer than the article itself. However, each commenter seemed to understand the nature and problems of homelessness in a different way. Everyone knows that there are people on the streets without a choice as well as nomadic cultures and migrant workers. Few people realize, though, how many nomadic urbanists there are - those who choose atypical ways of dwelling (within or between cities) that involve no fixed residence.

Car Living is becoming increasingly popular out of choice or necessity as the cost of living increases in major urban areas. The above image was taken under a bridge in Seattle, and depicts one of the many semi-permanent dwellings found there. The graffiti on the side shows how the resident has essentially painted a ‘front yard’ on the trailer, a symbol of ‘home.’ Those living in this area appreciate the lack of rent and relative quiet of Seattle’s Industrial District. While the city officially discourages these nomadic dwellers, there are no residential neighbors to complain so they are largely left alone.

Couch Surfing is very different kind of urban nomadism. People from around the world use various related forums and websites as they travel in order to stay free and meet new people. Couch Surfing dot Com has over 250,000 registered users and boasts available couches in virtually every major city in the world. In theory, a person could live from couch to couch indefinitely. Couch Surfers rely on reviews of one another and of places to stay, so maintaining good behavior is rewarded with better future couch surfing opportunities.

Architects, designers and urbanites are becoming increasingly interested in nomadic building design, from shipping container museums to portable temporary housing. Homelessness, in many ways, is a descriptive term that could be applied to more and more of the world’s population. There are certainly many people who did not choose and do not wish to remain homeless. Still, it is important to remember that the word ‘homeless’ carries many connotations that may or may not apply to everyone without a home, such as car dwellers, couch surfers and other urban nomads.

Want More? Check Out These Great Related Articles:

Posted by Urbanist August 3rd, 2007
Architecture, Guerilla Action, Urbanism
Comments: 19

Comments

Comment from Liam
Time: August 3, 2007, 4:38 am

You’re definately right…its not very fair to say because someone is homeless means that they are crack addicts or will stab you for your wallet, just as it isn’t fair to judge someone as they may appear to fit into a sterotype…or because of what you think you know about someone based on what you know about something they fit into.

I think the car living image is quite sad…

Comment from Liam
Time: August 3, 2007, 4:41 am

Also if you were to travel to Ireland, and know anything about the Traveling Community (or Gypsies as they are sometimes negatively called) you’d know all about Car Living…

Comment from AgentSully
Time: August 4, 2007, 12:51 pm

wow. so much stuff I never knew! the couch surfing thing is very interesting. I could see that being a choice for students some day since universities are becoming so outrageously expensive!!!

Comment from The Good Doctor
Time: August 5, 2007, 10:18 am

Urban Nomadisism is a great way to see the country while spending times in Urban areas. There are many among the homeless population that will give you good tips on where to stay, where not to be caught dead in, and what will happen if the cops catch you. I remember camping under a large pine tree in Olympia on the capitol lawn, it would have been a great nights sleep if it weren’t for the sprinklers that kicked on at 3 am, but it just goes to show you that if you’re willing to be creative it can be an eye opening experience.

Comment from CaptainPlanet
Time: August 8, 2007, 1:22 am

I wasn’t aware that Saddam was homeless or that he drunk beer (since alcohol is supposed to be taboo with Islam). I thought he had a lot of palaces when he was alive…

Comment from JohnC
Time: August 12, 2007, 12:34 am

lol. Glad to see the amount of intelligent commentors has increased compared to the last post. Had to wade through too much knee jerks in it. Nice post.

Comment from afrodream ‘n’ beaded
Time: August 13, 2007, 11:46 pm

Its really sad to see this happening in the first world countries. In Africa i can say we have it too and its big. Many pple from africa really wants to migrate to 1st world countries 4 better life. I guess we are all the same. As human being we are equal and we share the same problems

Comment from Teodol
Time: October 4, 2007, 9:59 pm

Can you get arrested by camping on NY?!

Comment from ScottB
Time: October 6, 2007, 12:54 am

I recently experienced 10 months of nomadic living in New Zealand. During that time I tried some couch surfing, lived in a van for 2 months, and hopped from hostel to hostel. For me, and many like minded people I met during my travels, it was a choice. Living uprooted and frugally, while often uncomfortable, gave me a feeling of freedom that’s almost extinct in modern western society. I woke up each morning with no obligations, nowhere to be, no bills to pay. I was free to pick up and go, see new places, meet new people, essentially start a new life whenever I wanted. An older gentleman I met summed it up best when he said ‘When you travel, every night is a Friday, every day is a Saturday.’

Now, you might be thinking, ‘What a bum…’, but I think that mentality has been fed to us. We live in consumer societies that work because we buy, and we can buy because we work. A fine crack forms in its flawless walls when you suddenly find you don’t ‘need’ any of those possessions. Therefore, it shouldn’t be all that surprising for there to be such a negative connotation to the word ‘homeless’.

In many ways the consumer society is great. It affords us the comforts of modern living, generally you don’t go hungry, you won’t get cold or overly hot, you’ll always have entertainment, but something bigger and more important can get lost along the way. What it means and feels like to be alive.

Comment from Jack
Time: November 16, 2007, 1:46 pm

Wow ScottB, your post was really profound. And I completely agree with you. We do live in a consumerist society where we work to buy, and we buy because we work. And we realy don’t need those things. Personally, I’d love to buy a campervan, hook it up with internet, and just roam.

Comment from World Peace
Time: January 11, 2008, 4:54 am

“Will Code HTML For Food”
If I find someone capable of doing that for me, I will not only give him food, but also a place to stay.

Too bad we haven’t met.

Comment from Kat
Time: February 25, 2008, 10:42 am

Can any one give me any information regarding shelter surfing? I’m in the process of writing a documentary about the homeless in our community. I am learning so much and have so much respect for those of you who are homeless. The stories that I have heard are so heartbreaking but in my opinion are very important in setting the record straight. My prayers are with you and I am on your side.
God bless you all,
Kat