In Germany, we got two terms that translate to homelessness in English: Obdachlosigkeit (literally “shelterlessness”), defined as living on the street, and Wohnungslosigkeit (literally “appartmentlessness”), defined as lacking a living space rented or owned. “Wohnungslose” people live mostly in communal owned homes or with friends/acquaintances.
So, for me, understanding “homelessness” as “Obdachlosigkeit”, this cartoon was hard to grasp.
Homelessness doesn’t just mean looking like a bum on the streets. Shocked a European wouldn’t be aware that all homelessness is not having a steady place to live, that includes people in hostels that are addicts or victims of various abuse. That includes 18 year olds told to leave the nest and stand on their own two feet when they’ve nothing actually lined up. That includes people who are couch surfing because they have an unsafe family home.
Homelessness is incredibly easy to fall into when situations spiral out of control. I’m long term unemployed (looking for employment though) with no savings but I live with my dad and if my dad kicked the bucket today then I would lose the home I grew up in and would have to get in touch with relevant authorities to be put on a waiting list that lasts years for somewhere to live.
Thank you for your explanation. It is legal to tell 18 year olds to leave home without providing for them? Wow. We have to provide for our relatives for life (parents for kids, but kids for parents as well. Well, at least legally – does not work in all cases.)
I’m aware that homelessness is not restricted to people like the man in the first panel. I’m working in a psychiatric hospital, and finding a place to live for our patients who are no longer capable of looking after themselves is not easy, but usually possible. I wasn’t aware people are forced to live in hostels.
I wish you good luck finding a job, long lasting health for your father and a way to keep your home on your own.
People think of the top left as homeless, and ignore the other three. Homeless people can have jobs and go to school, but can’t afford a home or might be homeless due to other circumstances like being kicked out of their home.
But people only think of the top left when someone says homeless.
People think of the top left as homeless, and ignore the other three
That’s because for most people, the question of “what to do about homelessness” is a question of what to do about people who are asking them for money on the street.
Seems like the message is just anyone can be homeless, which is pretty obvious. I guess if people’s awareness is that low then it’s good for these sorts of messages to get out but also suggests that many people are just morons.
I can’t imagine seeing this and immediately turning it into a international dick measuring contest. Maybe have some compassion instead of just making a “Sucks to be you” comment.
Being “too European” is clearly meant to be a slight (ie “My life is too good to understand this”), and honestly a naive one since it’s not like European countries have no homeless people.
Or maybe they thought it was referring to something more specific in American politics that they weren’t knowledgeable about and didn’t realize it was a more general message?
I never said homelessness is not a problem in Europe. On the contrary – working in a psychiatric hospital I am pretty aware of homelessness in our area. I just didn’t get the message of this cartoon, and I am shocked about what I learned today.
Wish I was able to get out more, though, your analysis is spot on.
You don’t have homeless people in Europe? The message is that not all homeless look like the guy in the first panel. There are all of these “invisible” homeless that go unseen because they don’t fit the stereotype.
Thank you for your explanation. My problems understanding these panels were
The kids in the panels. TIL, it is possible for kids to be homeless in the US. It’s hard for me to imagine that a society would let there kids be homeless. We got kids who fled from home and do not accept any help, thus being homeless in Germany as well, but these kids are on the run, not in schools or in cars with their mother.
The idea that a woman having a car and a kid might be homeless is totally alien to me, as well. The only possibility I can think of how this could happen is if she just ran away spontaneously neglecting all help she could get – that does happen, of course, and probably I’m just too naive.
Technically there are plenty enough resources to help, we just don’t adequately distribute them. Jeff bezos has like 4 condos in NYC alone iirc, (or maybe that’s musk) but he definitely also has a mansion with 24 fucking bathrooms.
The message is that it’s not only the unwashed pan handlers that are homeless. There are a lot of people that are or have been productive members of society that still become homeless. In the US a lot of the obvious homeless have major mental health conditions so many just assume that’s the main issue behind the majority of homless. When in reality it’s low wages that don’t keep up with inflation let alone inceases in cost of living
I’ve been all those kinds of homeless and let me tell you the ones sleeping on the street are also experiencing a totally different category of hardship than those who are homeless but sheltered.
I’m too European to get it. What is the message?
Edit: I do get it now. I was lost in translation.
In Germany, we got two terms that translate to homelessness in English: Obdachlosigkeit (literally “shelterlessness”), defined as living on the street, and Wohnungslosigkeit (literally “appartmentlessness”), defined as lacking a living space rented or owned. “Wohnungslose” people live mostly in communal owned homes or with friends/acquaintances.
So, for me, understanding “homelessness” as “Obdachlosigkeit”, this cartoon was hard to grasp.
Homelessness doesn’t just mean looking like a bum on the streets. Shocked a European wouldn’t be aware that all homelessness is not having a steady place to live, that includes people in hostels that are addicts or victims of various abuse. That includes 18 year olds told to leave the nest and stand on their own two feet when they’ve nothing actually lined up. That includes people who are couch surfing because they have an unsafe family home.
Homelessness is incredibly easy to fall into when situations spiral out of control. I’m long term unemployed (looking for employment though) with no savings but I live with my dad and if my dad kicked the bucket today then I would lose the home I grew up in and would have to get in touch with relevant authorities to be put on a waiting list that lasts years for somewhere to live.
This is my current situation. He passed a month ago and I am scrambling.
Thank you for your explanation. It is legal to tell 18 year olds to leave home without providing for them? Wow. We have to provide for our relatives for life (parents for kids, but kids for parents as well. Well, at least legally – does not work in all cases.)
I’m aware that homelessness is not restricted to people like the man in the first panel. I’m working in a psychiatric hospital, and finding a place to live for our patients who are no longer capable of looking after themselves is not easy, but usually possible. I wasn’t aware people are forced to live in hostels.
I wish you good luck finding a job, long lasting health for your father and a way to keep your home on your own.
People think of the top left as homeless, and ignore the other three. Homeless people can have jobs and go to school, but can’t afford a home or might be homeless due to other circumstances like being kicked out of their home.
But people only think of the top left when someone says homeless.
That’s because for most people, the question of “what to do about homelessness” is a question of what to do about people who are asking them for money on the street.
To be clear, it’s the landlord’s that are kicking the most people out in 2024. Fuck all landlords.
Kicking more people out than other groups, or than other years?
I didn’t understand it either.
Seems like the message is just anyone can be homeless, which is pretty obvious. I guess if people’s awareness is that low then it’s good for these sorts of messages to get out but also suggests that many people are just morons.
Here in Denver, people just ask whether a person “is outside”. That refers to sleeping unsheltered.
I can’t imagine seeing this and immediately turning it into a international dick measuring contest. Maybe have some compassion instead of just making a “Sucks to be you” comment.
I think this reply makes clear it was an honest question.
Being “too European” is clearly meant to be a slight (ie “My life is too good to understand this”), and honestly a naive one since it’s not like European countries have no homeless people.
Or maybe they thought it was referring to something more specific in American politics that they weren’t knowledgeable about and didn’t realize it was a more general message?
That you should get out more (or stop ignoring homeless people when you are out). The idea that homelessness isn’t a problem in Europe is absurd.
I never said homelessness is not a problem in Europe. On the contrary – working in a psychiatric hospital I am pretty aware of homelessness in our area. I just didn’t get the message of this cartoon, and I am shocked about what I learned today.
Wish I was able to get out more, though, your analysis is spot on.
This is also a problem in the EU. Maybe not as big.
You don’t have homeless people in Europe? The message is that not all homeless look like the guy in the first panel. There are all of these “invisible” homeless that go unseen because they don’t fit the stereotype.
We do have homeless people in Europe/Germany.
Thank you for your explanation. My problems understanding these panels were
The kids are homeless because their parent is homeless. In Europe, are you guaranteed a home as long as you have children?
It’s actually more likely if you have a car. Cars are a money sink.
The US does not guarantee you a home if you have a child. If countries in Europe do that, that’s awesome, but the US definitely does not.
Sure, there are charities, but there aren’t enough resources to help everybody.
Technically there are plenty enough resources to help, we just don’t adequately distribute them. Jeff bezos has like 4 condos in NYC alone iirc, (or maybe that’s musk) but he definitely also has a mansion with 24 fucking bathrooms.
My guess is that your society has the same problem to a much smaller degree and you just don’t know about it.
The message is that it’s not only the unwashed pan handlers that are homeless. There are a lot of people that are or have been productive members of society that still become homeless. In the US a lot of the obvious homeless have major mental health conditions so many just assume that’s the main issue behind the majority of homless. When in reality it’s low wages that don’t keep up with inflation let alone inceases in cost of living
I’ve been all those kinds of homeless and let me tell you the ones sleeping on the street are also experiencing a totally different category of hardship than those who are homeless but sheltered.