America's Nicest City? The Contentious Politics of Care and Punishment for the Homeless in Columbus, OH

Abstract

This research seeks to investigate and problematize the notions of care and punishment that constitute experiences of homelessness in Columbus, OH. Through a qualitative case study of what I refer to as the governing apparatus of homelessness – the constellation of service providers, advocates, policy-makers, and law enforcement officials who work to define and respond to the crises of homelessness—I explore the interplay of punitive and service-based responses to homelessness as they unfold in Columbus, OH—a city that has been nationally hailed as a leader for the implementation and development of service-based strategies for addressing the challenges of homelessness. The objective of my research is to answer the question: how are the politics of “anti-homelessness” and criminalization of homelessness characterized within what has been termed America’s “nicest” city? I argue that the conventional division between law enforcement as a site of punishment and service-providers as a site of care overlooks the complex and contingent processes through which the meanings of care and punishment are ascribed, demarcated, contested through everyday practices. My project demonstrates paradoxical perceptions, practices, politics, and possibilities of police officers as liaisons between the homeless and service providers. I argue that although the Columbus Police Department’s partnership with service organizations is unique and progressive in some aspects, it cannot be understood as outside of and further contributes to a historically unprecedented carceral state.