Inside Out

Growing up, my mom had a framed print on the wall that proclaimed “It takes a village to raise a child.” Since we lived in suburban Rhode Island, which can hardly be considered a village, this confused me. When I walk around Baltimore City, it may seem like even less of a village, but I know now that a “village” can exist in a suburb, a city, or even hidden in the woods. It all depends on the people that call that village their own.

Despite its urban setting, many Baltimoreans wake up and see forest surrounding their homes. The woods of this city are the home to dozens of individuals without traditional houses. Photographs by Ben Marcin reveal the wide range of these dwellings – some are simple tarps, while others boast clotheslines and home gyms. This is not a phenomenon unique to Baltimore. Many cities actually have far more developed groups that live outdoors. Tent City, a Steven Cantor documentary, shows the mini society that exists in the woods of Nashville, and the people that prefer the outdoors to the shelter system. It is not uncommon for these makeshift cities to have their own rules or guidelines, and for neighbors to work together for protection, or to build some of the more elaborate shelters that exist outside.

Are the shelter systems failing the populations they aim to serve? What would draw a person into the woods rather than sleep in a shelter bed and utilize heat, indoor plumbing, regular meal service, and daily shower accommodations ?If we really think about it, there are plenty of reasons, and the decision to stay outside is different for each individual. These include fear, not wanting a record in the social services system, freedom from rules, or not wanting to be separated from one’s partner or immediate family (as most shelters only accommodate single adults).

Have you ever had a roommate? Have you ever been annoyed by something your roommate did or said? Now multiply that by 10 roommates. Or 30. Or 200, depending on the capacity of your local shelter. Shelter life and tent living are drastically different. When you are outside, you might have a few neighbors, and not many people know where you are. Living outside allows you to choose the people with which you surround yourself, a privilege that usually disappears when someone becomes homeless. Shelter life means living with strangers.

Respecting both privacy and personal space is crucial to the well being of all people. The prevalence of a tent community is not the markings of a city that is failing its homeless population. In Baltimore, individuals can receive services at many shelters or drop-in centers without staying nights at the program. It is important that we allow these individuals the right to choose what services they want. This practice is important to allow people the space they need to survive, and the power to chose their own village.