(Un)homely City: Navigating houseless in a pandemic

The film delivers two key messages in relation to contemporary urban challenges and the pursuit of inclusive urban futures.
Firstly, the film draws a critical distinction between 'houselessness' and 'homelessness,' concepts that are often conflated in urban planning, governance, and developmental discourse. The film clarifies that 'home' is experienced in varied ways and not necessarily within a physical structure. Mainstream notions and practices of home often overlook that, particularly for urban poor communities, 'home' serves as a site of social, economic, and cultural reproduction, extending beyond mere physical confinement. The film recurrently juxtaposes mainstream ideas of home with lived experiences and alternative practices, highlighting that despite long-term residence in the city, these communities are often not recognized as urban citizens. Instead, they are labeled with pejorative terms such as beggars, vagrants, or criminals, perpetuating stereotypes and eliciting negative, unkind policy and governance responses.
The second key message addresses the nature of emergency responses during crises. The film underscores that for many urban poor communities, COVID-19 was not merely a health crisis but a crisis of loss—livelihoods, food, basic services, social relations, and homes. This perspective calls for a more nuanced approach to emergency responses that accounts for the continuous and compounded nature of crises faced by urban poor communities.