Waste from the Homeless?

Why is it so common to see street dwellers in urban areas? How come East Port-of-Spain has many while the CBD is clear of any signs of homelessness? How do homeless people contribute to urban waste? 

Again, this can all be related to disparities in development. According to Portugali (1996), a city environment is influenced by its economic activity and vice versa. This accounts for the presence of homeless people on the east side of Port-of-Spain since it is the periphery of the CBD. Homeless people often feel more comfortable in highly populated areas with a more relaxed and casual environment. "They also prefer to be there because its close to the bars and casino," was the reason of a citizen we interviewed. 

But how is waste is involved?

Well, waste tends to be a product of some type of activity. In this case the waste is a result of the undocumented employment that street dwellers are given. From observations it is common to see street dwellers travelling through the streets with old grocery carts and trolleys, transporting goods for street and market vendors. It was interesting to note that most street dwellers who resided on Tambrand Square and parts of Independence Square near the cathedral, were familiar with the environment. Before becoming homeless, the often went there to relax and hang out with friends. The environment was familiar and comfortable to them, hence the main reason why they located there.

After the job is done the products delivered, what becomes of their trolleys and carts? This is where the street dweller's waste start to play a role in the city. As you move further east along Independence Square, the landscape changes. The clean and quiet environment near the waterfront now becomes loud and dirty with the presence of pigeons and WASTE. The picture below is a clear depiction of the waste produced by homeless people. 

What the image says about POS:
The image gives a sense of social attitudes, management and the street dwellers' perspectives. This occurrence has become a norm in the city. It has developed to the point of social acceptance, whereby the ever day commuter may not give a second thought to the impact which it has on the city aesthetically. The image also questions the management of the city. Are any laws and government services in place to prevent this and are they implemented? Most importantly it gives an insight into the lives of street dwellers and the struggles they are faced with as the social services provided for them, such as the Riverside Carpark (Centre for Socially Displaced People) may not be adequate.

We've explored the negatives but are there any positive outcomes of the presence of street dwellers in east Port-of-Spain?

Indeed there is, as an independent sanitation engineer. Street dwellers play a key role in the removal of glass bottles from the streets. In Trinidad and Tobago, an empty glass bottle is equal to twenty-five cents. Due to presence of bars and the 'liming' atmosphere of the east side of the city, empty bottles  tend to be abundantly discarded. Homeless people deliver them to bars to obtain income which helps to buy their food and other necessities and wants. This practice is popular among street dwellers both locally, regional and internationally. The image below is sourced from http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/01/organization-homeless-environment/ shows this.

More waste?

Sadly, relationship between street dwellers and urban decay does not end there. The streets are their homes, kitchens, bedroom, bathrooms and dinning rooms and as any other human they have needs. Upon visiting Tambrand Square, some of the homeless people who reside there admit to defecating in the bushes. The smell of urine and ammonia fills the air in this park. Fecal matter is another source of waste in a city. There is also accumulation of solid waste products such as of food boxes, cardboard beds, dead rodents, and fecal matter which all fall under the category of "waste products" in this area. 

A picture of Tambrand Square and the waste accumulation by "Peter" who said that all the materials as seen in the picture belongs to him and he needs them to live which is why he refuses to throw them away.