It's no secret that downtown regions in the United States serve as regional economic powerhouses, housing large banks, government services, and small businesses. However, downtown areas also tend to have higher numbers of unhoused people compared with American suburbs and rural regions. What effect does the presence of unhoused people have on businesses? Do they truly hurt businesses, or is this an unchecked stigma?
What research says
Notable research has found that homelessness can negatively impact buisness’s by decreasing foot traffic, raising security concerns, and creating a potentially “unsanitary” work enviorment. However, with an issue as complicated as homelessness, no simple solutions exist. Some experts propose community solutions like food donations to potentially decrease unhouses populations, while others suggest buisnessess better educate there employees on how to assist an unhoused individual.
Why this matters
Recently ABC 10 News reported that more businesses in downtown San Diego are getting worried about unhoused activity outside their establishments. One business owner, Robyn Spencer, owner of East Village Tavern and Bowl, said, "We're tired of walking over needles and defecation, watching people have their meltdowns."
Despite the fact that homelessness can negatively impact businesses, let's not forget that it also hurts the individuals experiencing it. Homelessness is society's largest issue and currently does not have enough public advocacy to end it. Maybe if businesses start to see the suffering homelessness causes, they too could use their resources to help one of America’s most vulnerable populations and perhaps help end homelessness.