Tent Cities Connect Online

by Dominic Mapstone · 2009-10-19 20:19:00 UTC
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As the economic downturn has worsened, growing numbers of homeless people are camping in tent cities across the United States. But unlike the Hoovervilles of the Great Depression, people living in modern day tent cities can access to the web, at libraries, local internet cafes and through homeless service providers allowing tent cities residents around the world to connect, swap notes, and support one another online.

Many American tent cities have achieved a level of collaborative community organization. This may include involvement of support servicesor  - as in the case of Seattle Tent City -  political organization to improve their circumstances.

But for every organized tent city, there are several where services are lacking, there is no political cohesion, and residents feel powerless. This is where the power of the web has come into play. The tent city thread on the Homeless Forums was created after it was clear that interest in this topic was growing online. A new space was created exclusively for homeless people living in a Tent City to use as they see fit.

Today, tent cities that ‘have' are connecting and swapping notes with tent cities that ‘have not.' Already people from three continents are working on this project. The content ranges from tent city media coverage, wish lists, to perspectives and insight from the ground.

Current and formerly homeless individuals - in tent cities or otherwise - are invited to join the conversation and connect with others. Advocates can help inform individuals about this resource by printing out a notice promoting the Homeless Forums and posting it on the wall at your local shelter or soup kitchen, or tent city (with their permission). Organizations in the homeless sector or people who blog can link to the Homelessness Forum via their website or blog to support the project.

The tent city forum project is a completely fluid idea and open to everyone helping out and contributing their insight, experience and any resources they can make available. Please get involved and help in any way you can.

Image: Guilermo Esteves

Dominic Mapstone is the director of Rebeccas Community, an Australian non-profit, and admin at the International Homeless Forum.
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