The new threat, the old paradigm: housing, homelessness, and the COVID 19 crisis

If the only effective recipe to prevent the spread of Covid-19 was to stay at home, at least 800 million people around the world who do not have a proper home or live in informal settlements where physical distancing is almost impossible, could not fulfill it, according to the UN Human Rights Council report.  Homelessness and housing inequality have long been challenging governments worldwide - especially those countries that have historically ignored poverty, marginalization, stigmatization, and discrimination issues. The COVID-19 outbreak just exposed and exacerbated this chronic homelessness crisis into a housing emergency of global dimensions.

“Housing has become the front line defence against the coronavirus. Home has rarely been more of a life-or-death situation.”

Leilani Farha - UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing

The pandemic raised many questions about important aspects of human rights laws relating to the right to housing; national and local governments have no choice but rapidly act to respond to the crisis: evictions and rental contracts cancellations were temporally suspended, measures to protect renters and mortgage payers were established and overall, facilities that provide services for homeless people, including shelters, drop-in centers, and soup kitchens were created or enlarged. Although being valuable measurements to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and also key actions that could contribute to future outbreaks, the problem is far away from being solved and one main question still remains: beyond temporary measures, are the governments ready to move towards a more permanent solution to ensure that the right to adequate housing is protected and fulfilled for homeless people, persons who live in informal settlements and so many other vulnerable groups?

Pocket libraries in the city

I was thrilled last month when I learnt that the school library has reopened. On a Monday morning in August I went to the library to pick up the books I reserved; the librarian informed me that the library has reopened. I remember asking her, with my eyes wide open, “Does that mean I can come at anytime and check all the books I want from the shelf?” She gave me a big smile and said yes. She also said that it has been too long, “18 months,” she said.

The pandemic has brought changes to many things and in various aspects. One thing I missed a lot was the library visit. Contactless pick-up allowed us to have access to books but the whole library experience was no longer the same. I missed the access to the library environment. It was then I realised how the physicality of libraries mattered so much to me. I want access to books but I also long for access to libraries. I miss walking back and forth the library aisles, looking for books on the shelf, and occasionally, peeking at the books others picked up. Many of my library visits ended with more books than planned—though I always brought a ‘books to check out’ list the actual library visit often changed the game. In the act of looking for the books I had in mind, I also got attracted by books that were on the same (or near-by) shelf. I also enjoyed finding the library carts, scanning through books that had been checked out, returned, but hadn’t made their way back to the shelf. In searching for books I found more books and more nice surprises. This library experience is very different from contactless pick-up in which you only got what you asked for.

During this period of library closure, the little libraries in the public serve to alleviate my longing for the library experience. One can find this book-sharing box at various parts in the city. The take a book, leave a book movement has grown in popularity over the past years. Advocates believe that little free libraries improve access to books, help tackle low literacy rates and encourage community building and creativity.

Despite some critics facing these little free libraries (the main critique was on the issue of branding and trademarking the word ‘library’) , I enjoy spotting these pocket libraries in cities. I feel excitement at the first sight of the book-sharing box—look, there is a little library that I can visit—then I feel excitement by the fact that I am allowed to pick and hold a book and turn its pages. Pocket libraries are hidden treasures in the city; you don’t know when and where you’d spot them and you won’t know what books await until you visit the little library.

Figure 1. The free little library located outside Limestone Organic Creamery. Scones and books are the perfect pair for teatime. Image source: Judy Chen. Kingston, 2021.

Figure 2. An old backyard BBQ turned book-sharing box. I found this little library on a residential driveway while on my bike. Image source: Judy Chen. Pointe-Claire, 2021.  

Figure 3. The Free Books shelf located outside Phoenix Books on Sherbrooke. The time when I went for photos they only had one book left on the shelf. Image source: Judy Chen. Montréal, 2021.

Living City Cores: Reclaiming the City One Step at a Time

It’s September, early in the morning. I stand on the front doorsteps and breathe in the fresh air. The morning dew brings an ethereal look to my surroundings and takes me back to first-day-of-school photoshoots. I start walking, opus card in hand, ready to take over the city once again. This time it is real; we are heading back to school, office, library. We are ready, the city is ready, to welcome life in its center again.

Fast-track to the metro: a delayed car on the orange line. Only this time, there does not seem to be animosity in the air. Is it possible to long for an inconvenience? After spending so much time in our homes, it seems that the collectivity enjoys on some level the time spent traveling. However, the desire to get back to our pre-pandemic lives might not compensate for the reality of the present routine. Practically nothing has changed, except for new buildings here and there in the downtown core.

Heading back to the city brings a fresh perspective over the problems to fix and the path we should take towards better urban planning. Mary Rowe of the Canadian Planning Institute associates in an interview the pandemic with a ‘particle accelerator’, explaining that city issues ‘manifest themselves now in a much more acute way’ (Saunders, 2020). Considering the economic impact of the last year, it may even take longer to solve such amplified issues, while tackling the new demands of climate change and public health. What lies in front of us is a rethinking of the human factor in cities in a modern context, which will take years to fully input.

In the meantime, smaller changes will take place, one at a time. Urban design and transportation have been at the center of attention, being fields where modifications can be implemented quickly. In North America and Europe, more space is opened up to pedestrians and bikers or being reinforced through older projects (Leigh, 2020). An interesting Covid-19 direct response is the city of Oakland’s ‘Slow Street’ program, closing up to 119 km of the street to prioritize shared access (City of Oakland, 2021). The challenge lies in choosing which solution will provide the best transition to longer-lasting redevelopment. Only time will tell.

References

Leigh, Gweneth Newman. (2020, September 15). Reimagining the post-pandemic city. Architecture AU. https://architectureau.com/articles/reimagining-the-post-pandemic-city/

Saunders, Doug. (2020, November 14). The urban cure: How cities seize opportunity from the pandemic  crisis to change how they operate for the better. The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-urban-cure-how-cities-seize-opportunity-from-the-pandemic-crisis/

Urban Tranquility

Summer 2020 adventures often seemed to include some sort of escape from the four-walled, cemented city structures we live in. Gaspésie became a key destination for Quebecers: French-speaking small towns at a safe distance from skyscrapers. This summer has yet to reveal which destination might become #1, but the answer will soon be revealed as the construction holidays have begun.

The mass temporary migration reveals a deeper dilemma for city planners: there is simply not enough tranquility in cities. Public spaces often tend to have elements of greenery and are usually placed at a walking distance of people’s homes, providing both accessibility to nature and sound barriers. However, they are often too small, therefore unable to host a variety of activities. This encourages situations with a conflict between peace and excitement, such as the overcrowding at Îles-de-Boucherville, where partygoers will blast music on boats until sundown and overturn kayaks and canoes (Radio-Can, 2021).

Silence and space have been somewhat rediscovered with social isolation. Although we do need interaction, a balance of both crowded and clear is necessary for inner peace. The future calls for better preservation and development of our green spaces by offering enough services and activities for the growing demand.

Reference

Lefebvre, K. (Host). (2021, July 14). Une cohabitation difficile sur le fleuve, avec Philippe-AntoineSaulnier. [Radio episode]. In Le 15-18. Radio-Canada Ohdio. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/

Botanical garden of Montreal. Image source: Author.

Tactical Urbanism Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is a warning to our cities to be prepared for the next crisis. It teaches us lessons on the necessity of maintaining strong community bonds and the importance of spaces for developing and benefiting from such bonds. Due to lockdowns, people had more time to explore their own neighborhoods, which led to a greater recognition of the need for access to community hubs within walking distance. We also witnessed experiments in “Tactical Urbanism”, as streets in cities all around the world were given over to cyclists, pedestrians, and restaurants to meet the spatial requirements for physical distancing. Tactical Urbanism, also known as Guerrilla Urbanism, refers to an approach to modify urban built environment, using temporary, low-cost, and scalable interventions to improve local neighborhoods or city gathering places.

In response to the pandemic, cities had to quickly repurpose public spaces to facilitate outdoor gatherings. OpenNorfolk Program, in Norfolk, Virginia, applied tactical urbanism tools to benefit its residents. This program implemented three kinds of projects to address the problems caused by the public health crisis: 1) “Streateries” or outdoor dining in the street, which allowed small businesses to continue operating safely. 2) Prioritizing pedestrian mobility and providing safe outdoor activities through changing streetscape. This slowed down traffic and encouraged pedestrian activity. 3) “Neighborhood Spots” – pop-up community squares or hubs, which kept talented artists employed. Therefore, OpenNorfolk Program, as the result of a successful collaboration among designers, city staff, and other partners, helped Norfolk city back on its feet, and lifted the spirits of the residents in the time of pandemic.

Dreamy: resilient coffee culture

It is a nice feeling to have your own weekend-only secret spot. I have found mine ever since I first visited Dreamy in early March. Dreamy is often referred to as a coffee supermarket but I prefer calling it a coffee market. The term supermarket, to me, sounds a tad cold and lacking in human interaction. (Also, my research focuses on public markets; this may explain my sentiments toward supermarkets.)

But Dreamy is a warm place. The Canadian Roasting Society (CRS) is the force behind Dreamy. The CRS was founded by Andy Kyres, owner of Tunnel Espresso, and Scott Rao, who co-founded (and later departed) Café Myriad. As Dreamy frequent flyers, we got to know Andy and learn more about coffee as well as the coffee market. Andy is, just like the place, a warm and humble person. He shares his extensive, multi-faceted knowledge in coffee, takes time to answer our questions (whether it be about coffee or about the place itself), and makes us some of the best coffee I have ever had in all my years of coffee consuming.

Figure 1. Coffee roasting at the CRS factory. Aiming to help independent cafés and other smaller-scale coffee roasters, the CRS provided the space and equipment needed for roasting coffee. Image source: Judy Chen. Montreal, 2021.

Andy said the pandemic accelerated the birth of Dreamy. Andy’s coffee shop, Tunnel, was shut down due to the pandemic. But coffee runs in Andy; he wanted to keep making and sharing coffee with other coffee lovers. Then Andy turned his eyes to the CRS.  Located in a warehouse on St-Patrick Street in Sud-Ouest, Montreal, Andy thought the openness of the factory space combined with the large outdoor space made a great candidate for a pandemic coffee venue.

Figure 2. The selection of coffees. Andy is committed to having anywhere from 14 to 18 different roasters available on their shelves at one time. Image source: Judy Chen. Montreal, 2021.

The CRS started with the vision of creating a coffee coworking space. This coworking space brings together and supports the coffee community. Dreamy, on the other hand, supports the Covid-affected community. The head baker of Dreamy, Missy Hansen Murphy, told us that she was a flight attendant until Covid hit. Baking has always been her interest and Dreamy provided her a platform to continue her passion in baking. While making delicious Southern-style biscuits to pair with coffee Missy Hansen Murphy also eagerly awaits the day when she can return to the skies.

Figure 3. Dreamy. Being hit by Covid, Andy continues making coffee here while Missy Hansen Murphy takes over the baking station. Image source: Judy Chen. Montreal, 2021.

Figure 4. The outdoor terrace. With help from the city government, Dreamy now has an eye-catching and fun terrace with tables surrounding the tree trunks. Image source: Judy Chen. Montreal, 2021.

Dreamy is not just a weekend pop-up; it is a place demonstrating the resilience of coffee culture. The strategic use of the factory space, the engagement of the community and the enthusiasm of urban dwellers—both the team behind Dreamy and us coffee lovers—together show the strength and determination humans possess.