Resistance meets Resistance. Attempts at mobilizing homelessness in Tenderloin, San Francisco

Abstract

This master thesis is based on participant observation conducted with and without a camera in an organization, called Coalition on Homelessness. By following Miguel Carrera’s work, who was the leader of Housing Justice’ workgroup, and through discussions, interactions and conversations with the homeless and activists in Tenderloin, I have tried to grasp the complexity of the homeless issue in Tenderloin today. I have seen the difficulties the organization has with their relationship to the media, the city hall and the citizens of San Francisco, as well as their struggle they have with mobilizing the homeless themselves. Why is the organization meeting resistance by the homeless themselves? And why does they have difficulties to get pursuant by the local politicians, the media and the public? In this thesis, I will investigate these questions.