Page 46 - LTHC Publics Catalog, Spring 2018 Update

THROUGH THE LENS (ENGL 419 Project)

Breakdown of Analysis by Code

Safety

When people are homeless, the safety of themselves and their be-
longings is a major struggle. As stated by one of the participants,
when living on the street, “you’re going to feel vulnerable when-
ever you have to close your eyes because sooner or later you’re
going to go to sleep.” When falling asleep in public places, home-
less people have no way to monitor their surroundings to ensure
that nothing happens to them or their belongings. Many of the
participants expressed how grateful they were to have a bed after
being housed by LTHC. Being free of sleep deprivation and fear
they faced.

Although the participants all seemed to feel safe within LTHC’s
housing, they expressed that some areas of town could be dan-
gerous at times. The Lincoln Center has a few bars nearby, and
one participant said that “either way you look at it we’re surround-
ed.” Aside from the obvious dangers posed by drunks and rough
crowds associated with bars, many clients have struggled with al-
coholism in the past. The way the participant expressed that they
are surrounded by bars suggests that they may feel trapped by
them. The temptation of drinking can be difficult to overcome for
people who have struggled with addiction in the past and having
so many bars near their home can make it even harder for them.

The bus system is used as a primary method of transportation for
most clients, can be just as unsafe as walking through the more
dangerous parts of town. One of the clients said she used to feel
safe on the bus because of the cameras and bus driver until a man
tried to stab her. This has made her fear for her safety every time
she rides the bus. She said she doesn’t “sit behind the bus driver
out of their view and stuff since that happened.” She now also
prefers having someone with her when she leaves the building.
One participant describes LTHC as “a safe environment. A place
we can call home, and be safe, and don’t have to worry about all the chaos out there.” Although many of the clients
have felt unsafe in town, they all agree that LTHC’s housing is a safe space where they don’t have to worry about all
of the threats.
Struggles

Struggles were frequently discussed during the focus group discussion because every participant is undergoing some
type of struggle. Many of them have struggled or currently are struggling with different types of addiction. For some,
it can be difficult to be around alcohol or people who have been drinking. Struggles was a recurring issue that had a
variety of subcategories such as medical, mental, family, and financial struggles.

44