Combatting the NIMBY Mindset and Acknowledging the Homeless Population

Understanding the NIMBY Challenge

With the number of urban development projects and infrastructure projects increasing, the prominence of NIMBYism becomes increasingly evident. NIMBY, short for “Not In My Backyard”, refers to a discriminatory occurrence in which residents of a neighbourhood determine that new development, such as a shelter or affordable housing, is unwanted in their local area. Often, the driving factor of the opposition to the development projects is the assumptions about the characteristics of the potential population that will be living in the development. For instance, some assumptions are tied to the increase in crime rates as affordable housing is regarded as an attraction to racial minorities. The challenge of insufficient public resources is also a concern as the local area's population increases. For example, as a result of this, additional school facilities or other services may be needed for the growing population. Ultimately, with the visible consequences, residents are bound to be in opposition to the change.

Challenges for the Homeless Community

NIMBYism is a growing challenge for the homeless community. As the opposing movement prevents the development of vital shelters and affordable housing, homeless individuals face difficulties in finding safe and stable places to live as options are reduced. Due to this, homeless individuals are not only unable to access housing but are also deprived of access to essential resources such as healthcare, job assistance, and other services. Moreover, the NIMBY mindset may contribute to the perception that homelessness is an issue that should not be appropriately addressed and solved. Consequently, NIMBYism could create a cycle where homeless individuals are denied access to necessary resources and services, causing the homeless community to continue struggling and remain in precarious situations.

Strategies for Resolving the NIMBY Challenge

Overcoming NIMBYism is necessary for establishing a society that values the well-being of all its members, including those who are experiencing homelessness. To begin, the NIMBYism movement could be perceived as a bargaining disagreement between developers and residents. As many of the development projects bring change and unknown consequences, it is natural that residents oppose the project that seemingly offers them no direct benefits. Therefore, some news sources believe that compensation can resolve the issue of opposition, considering that these projects often generate substantial profits (Foster & Warren, 2021). Moreover, communicating and negotiating with the residents is likely to increase acceptance rates and yield mutually desired outcomes for both parties, as well as combatting NIMBYism. Another possible strategy to resolving the NIMBY issue, is YIMBY, an acronym for “Yes In My Backyard”. YIMBY is a transformative movement, contrary to the NIMBY phenomenon, that supports the increase of housing availability in areas that have become nearly unaffordable. The YIMBY mindset embraces the changes that the development projects bring and lends it support. Improving and supporting the YIMBY movement can be a useful asset in countering NIMBY occurrence.

References

What Is a YIMBY? | Planopedia. (n.d.). What Is a YIMBY? | Planetizen Planopedia. https://www.planetizen.com/definition/yimbys

“Not in my backyard”: How discrimination is a barrier for those experiencing homelessness | CBC News. (2021, December 26). CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/not-in-my-backyard-how-discrimination-is-a-barrier-for-those-experiencing-homelessness-1.6295960

NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) | The Homeless Hub. (n.d.). NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) | the Homeless Hub. https://www.homelesshub.ca/solutions/affordable-housing/nimby-not-my-backyard

Foster, & Warren. (2021, October 21). The NIMBY problem. SageJournals. Retrieved August 24, 2023, from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09516298211044852