Randall Amster

Amster explores the historical and contemporary implications of homelessness both as a social and spatial problem, drawing upon academic disciplines and policy concerns ranging from urban geography to legal advocacy. Homeless people often find themselves on the front lines of a struggle to preserve places that are theoretically open to everyone regardless of status. Urban spaces in particular manifest a complex and dynamic ecology comprised of people, culture, architecture, technology, and the natural environment, often expressed through concrete processes such as gentrification, redevelopment, and privatization. In light of these processes, homeless people are criminalized for performing basic life-sustaining activities such as sitting or sleeping. These trends are evident in cities across the U.S. and internationally, indicating the necessity of linking local issues with wider forces of globalization.