#10

The “houseless,” as Jim Burklo puts it in his essay “Houselessness and Homelessness,” are sometimes the most resourceful people. They don’t have much, so they make the most of what they do have. Because of their limited resources, they are very mindful about what is around them, they recycle many items, and live by the recycling mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle” to a greater extent than most people do. They find recycled cardboard for cushioning, fish someone’s Arrowhead plastic water bottle out of the trashcan to use as their own water bottle, etc.

The “houseless” of downtown Reno know the in and outs of the area. They know a safe place to sleep, a cheap place to get food, and they are probably smart enough to use the casino bathrooms. They have their own community. They come together out of necessity, as humans are sociable animals. They come together out of necessity partially because, unfortunately, most people ostracize them. The networks they do have are vital because living out in the open can be dangerous. There is the occasional crime against “houseless” people because they live such a vulnerable life style: it is entirely public. Yes, sometimes “houseless” people commit crimes themselves, so some will say it is karma, but other “houseless” people are good civilians, just like the rest of us.