Exercising Agency: How Men Experiencing Homelessness Employ Human, Social, and Cultural Capital to Mitigate Natural Hazards Risk

Abstract

People experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable in society. They are exposed to a variety of natural and technological hazards and may have few resources available to protect themselves and their property. Despite their vulnerabilities, there has been relatively little research on how the homeless mitigate their hazard risks. The present study seeks to fill that oversight. Specifically, this paper examines the strategies that homeless men in Central Florida employ to mitigate their risks to natural hazards in the region. This study finds that despite increased social vulnerability to natural hazards, some risk can be mitigated by utilizing public spaces such as libraries, activating social networks of friends and family, and employing certain techniques to establish and maintain campsites. Thus, the homeless exercise agency by using their human, social, and cultural capital to mitigate risk.