Overview:
Several airports have taken varying approaches in response to homelessness on their properties. These approaches include partnering with community organizations to conduct outreach and connect people experiencing homelessness with services and housing, closing the airport overnight, and distributing bus tickets to incentivize relocation away from the airport. However, without guidance on how to address a complex and nuanced issue such as homelessness, airports may not be equipped with all the information and resources necessary to address the issue in a strategic and effective way. Airports need a greater depth of understanding of homelessness and the ways in which individuals experiencing homelessness utilize airport property.
Our Team will develop clear, practical guidelines that are based on the latest homelessness research, draw from insights of service providers and individuals experiencing homelessness, and reflect the real‐world needs and operating conditions of airports. Our guidance will facilitate the development of comprehensive and scalable approaches to address homelessness at airport facilities. The Primer and Guidebook we develop for this research project will enhance the body of knowledge on homelessness at airports and benefit airports by:
- Conveying the issue of homelessness in a way that is accessible and pertinent to an airport audience.
- Allowing airports to identify suitable solutions based on their contextual factors.
- Enabling strategies that meet the security and operational needs of airports and facilitate engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness in a respectful and humane manner.