What Is Gentrification?

Gentrification

The more we continue to develop new neighborhoods the more we are alienating and avoiding the problem of homelessness. Gentrification is the process of renewal or the rebuilding of deteriorating areas that in many instances displaces poorer residents. This displacement of the poorer residents may have an increase in homelessness since the poorer class of that area cannot afford a higher cost of living in other neighborhoods. While some may believe gentrification helps all economic classes other believe it excludes the lower-class.

“WEAK CENTER” GENTRIFICATION

The research is based on one of the poorest neighborhoods of the United States, Skid Row located in Los Angeles. Most of the homeless you see in Skid Row are recent discharge

This project conducted by Donley and Jackson took in 30 homeless men in the area and interviewed them individually to see how they downplay being homeless and if it is possible to feel welcome in certain communities (2011). The homeless interviewed said to want to have a clean appearance and want to fit it in but it is difficult especially in urban areas were gentrification is taking place. Furthermore, limited resources in those urban areas makes it difficult for the poor to have a clean appearance. All the men interview said they were well aware that their homeless status kept them alienated from the rest of the population. Many mention that they tried downplaying their homeless status in order not to get arrested for petty crimes, for example, dumpster diving or simply sitting on the sidewalks (2011). The stigmatization on homeless people give them an impression that they are worthless and to the eyes of the outsiders they are generalized as worthless as well. This research was short-term yet gave a great insight on not only how the homeless view themselves but how they believe other view them. They acknowledge that once a community is renovated it becomes more difficult to fit in and things like sitting in a side walk may cause you jail time (gentrification and “zero tolerance). The questions were simple which made interviewers express themselves more

This research show how many activist want to criminalize poverty and displace through gentrification and police policies. The SCI or Safer Cities Initiative is the organization trying to gentrify Skid Row. The people of Skid Row created and organization to fight against SCI. The organization is call Los Angeles Community Action Network. Throughout the research they tackle two questions how the residents of Skid Row organizing themselves through LA CAN to have a say over SCI’s impact on their community, also how and why do LA CAN member stay involved in the organization and how do they contribute and participate (2010). This research is also a great indication that the homeless are noticing the difference in their environment. Moreover, they are noticing that being a homeless is slowly becoming a crime and there are rapidly being alienated. The Co-director of LA CAN, Pete White states, “like most wars”…”this is about land” (2010). Again this is an example that the people that are pro-gentrification, their main objective is to get the land and make profit (just like we mention on the first research). The research give a great insight because for course of two years Christine Elizabeth Petit works with LA CAN and conducted 22 interview with member of LA CAN and other supporters. Unlike the research done in Sanford, FL,