"Hoovervilles" were, during the Great Depression of the 1930s, makeshift shantytowns built by homeless people across the U.S.. Named in mockery of President Herbert Hoover due to his administration's perceived failure to address the economic crisis, these settlements consisted of shacks built from cardboard, scrap metal, and wood. While common nationwide, similar, modern-day, large-scale tent cities have been noted in San Francisco and other areas.
Residents lived in dire conditions without sanitation or electricity. These settlements were typically situated on the outskirts of cities, near water sources. Despite their circumstances, many, such as in Seattle, developed into organized communities. They were dismantled as New Deal programs began, largely disappearing by the beginning of World War II.
The term "Hooverville" is used to describe contemporary, often large, homeless encampments or, colloquially, "tent cities" that have appeared in the San Francisco Bay Area due to economic hardship.
The Guardian reported on a large, heavily criticized encampment in San Francisco. Such, often, "hidden" encampments serve as a stark reminder of the long-standing and, often, complex issue of homelessness in the city, with The San Francisco Public Press noting a 40% increase in the homeless rate in the area. The count identified 8,323 people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco, marking a 7.3% increase from 2022. While roughly half are considered unsheltered, estimates suggest up to 20,000 individuals experienced homelessness in the City at some point during the year.
...
...
Some of today's tent cities have tapped into the grid or use generators. Remember the guy who built a pretty nice place between two freeways in LA?
ReplyDeleteNewscum spent $28 BILLION "fixing" the problem.
ReplyDelete