Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

8-2024

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Sociology

Degree Program

Sociology, MA

Committee Chair

Christopher, Karen

Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)

Heberle, Laruen

Committee Member

Heberle, Laruen

Committee Member

Koven, Steven

Author's Keywords

Homelessness; race; administrative burdens; displacement

Abstract

Thousands of unhoused Black men sleep, live and eat on the streets daily. Many lack the essential resources to survive through the elements. However, little is known about how unhoused Black men share space with the public, businesses, law enforcement and each other. Furthermore, little is known about how unhoused Black men access services once displacement has occurred. Drawing on participant observation and in-depth interviews, I examine how unhoused Black men navigate occupied urban spaces. I find that unhoused Black men regularly encounter contested spaces with businesses, the public, hospitals, and law enforcement. Additionally, unhoused Black men must navigate through displacement techniques to access resources. However, displacement leads to cyclical administrative burdens in which men’s racial and unhoused identities intersect to limit access to needed resources. These findings shed light on how race, space and the label of homelessness create barriers for unhoused black men and how policy officials and administrative processes add burdens that make upward mobility challenging.

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