Why Spring Is The Worst Season To Be Homeless

When you think of homelessness, winter often automatically comes to mind as the worst time of year. It’s the thought of the perils of being cold and living on the street. The reality is, it can be tougher to be without a home during the spring season. Springtime takes a toll on the homeless population.

As spring rolls around, as flowers bloom and trees bud, people are spending more time outside, and orange construction cones line more and more city streets. People are dusting off their patio furniture, their bikes and their decks. Almost everyone seems to be happier.

While spring spells new beginnings for many, it means a new set of challenges for the homeless.

The sudden influx of people enjoying the outdoors — and rightfully so, it has been a long winter — not only means more visibility to the homeless but increased awareness of the stark contrasts between those who have and those who have not. This has an emotional impact on people living in poverty, who are homeless and isolated. The season that breaks through the emotional doom and gloom of winter for many, can often exacerbate depression in the homeless.

Increased use of the outdoors by pedestrians and pets, cyclists, cars and construction, also means increased disruption of sleep.

People who are homeless are the City’s most vulnerable and exposed. They sleep throughout the day in order to stay alive through the night. While the city sleeps, the homeless lay awake to protect themselves and their belongings.

As the weather warms, people’s attitude towards the homeless cools. The community tends to forget about, overlook or be less sympathetic towards those who are the homeless.