The World’s First Museum of Homelessness Opens in London

Last updated on May 27th, 2024 at 06:13 am

The world’s first homelessness museum opened in London. This will shed light on the lives of homeless peoples, portraying them as resilient survivors. While inspiring, the museum’s opening display also brings a sense of unease, highlighting that homelessness can happen to anyone.

One story is featured at exhibit titled “How to Survive The Apocalypse” tells of a man who once enjoyed a successful career in finance in Japan. In the sixties he was battling with cancer and living on the streets of London. He wore donated clothes to stay warm, including a woolen cloth from his former employer, which he mentioned without any anger or disappointment.

This museum of of Homelessness opened on Friday. It has been in the making for a decade, starting as a mobile project. Now, it has found a permanent home in an Edwardian groundsman’s lodge on the edge of North London’s Finsbury Park.

The timing of the museum’s opening is significant. In 2022, 290,000 households in the UK sought help for homelessness. The number of people in temporary accommodation has doubled in the past decade, and rough sleeping increased by 26% in the same year. With rents outpacing inflation and a severe cost-of-living crisis, homelessness continues to rise. In the last three months of 2023 alone, homelessness increased by 16% nationwide. The stories told by this museum reflect the harsh realities faced by many and highlight the growing number of individuals affected by homelessness.

The museum offers a unique experience by focusing on storytelling, education, and advocacy. Rather than displaying items in traditional glass cases, it features interactive exhibits where volunteers share the stories behind the objects, all donated by their homeless former owners. This approach provides a deeply human perspective on homelessness, challenging traditional notions of what museums should exhibit.

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The objects in the museum’s first exhibition may seem ordinary, but their stories are profound. For example, a wooden staff repaired with duct tape was used by a homeless man suffering from chronic back pain after he left his crutches on a bus. This simple piece of wood became an essential tool, even decorated with a glass eye, inspired by his favorite novel, Iain Banks’s “The Wasp Factory.” This transformation of a discarded item into something valuable and personal challenges the stereotype of homeless individuals as lost and despondent.

These narratives of resilience may inspire visitors, but the museum also delivers a sobering message. It suggests that the skills homeless people use to survive, such as resilience, mutual support, and community, will become increasingly important in a future marked by instability.

Adam Hemmings, the museum’s Operations & Production Manager, aims to change the conversation around homelessness. “There’s a lot of sensationalism and pity, a lot of victim narratives around homelessness,” he says. “What we’re doing with this show is highlighting the wisdom and creativity of homeless individuals. When the apocalypse does come, it will be people affected by these issues who have a lot of the answers.”

The Museum of Homelessness is not just a collection of stories; it’s a call to recognize the strength and ingenuity of those who live without permanent shelter.