„Tent cities” in the United States as an element of anti-homelessness strategy

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is an introduction to the subject of tent cities in the United States. It is a phenomenon with many aspects and a long history - from the tent cities of runaway slaves during the Civil War, through Hoovervilles, to “CCC Camps” and “She-She-She
Camps” under the New Deal Program. In recent times it includes illegal tent cities and habitats created with the participation of non-governmental organizations and the approval of local state administration. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the municipalities of several cities have organized legal tent cities as a replacement for homeless shelters which have been closed due to outbreak of COVID-19. This situation not only attracted the attention of the media, but became an opportunity to raise the question of the validity of using similar solutions as a permanent elements of the federal homelessness strategy. Giving a credible answer to them could be of particular importance in the situation of the economy turmoil, high unemployment rate, loss of income and insufficient federal expenditures on affordable housing programs. In the
near future these factors will contribute to increase the American homeless population. This work is a descriptive and analytical study, based on federal statistics and non-governmental organization reports, monographs, scientific articles and press coverage.