Housing, Houselessness, and Encampments

When it came to identify the activities available in the area, there were not many adventurous activities that can be found. 

Some of the main entities visible in the area were:

• Different shop varieties (accessories, sweets, thrift stores)

• small stores

• Grocery stores

• Bakeries

When it came to the topic about housing, there were multiple assets that contrasted each object (housing) that was visible in the area. 

• The main housing entities were the following:

• Houses (large and small)

• Large apartment complexes

• Homless encampments around the area

Barrier Entities of the Neighborhood

Analyzing the housing situation in the area, there were two extreme opposite ends in the neighborhood. To begin with, the main housing problem is the amount of homeless people that wander around the streets and populated areas of the neighborhood.

The Homeless encampments and homeless folks are a negative entity for this community due to the following: they are not friendly at all and promote a dangerous environment in the area due to their hostile behavior towards regular people who are "too" close.

Additional aspects of the community such as loud ambulance and police vehicle sirens, loud construction noises/banging, and cars honking at other cars and people at multiple streets of the neighborhood.

Asset Entities of the Neighborhood

On the contrary, there were positive aspects in the neighborhood that were also able to stand out in a great way without being overshadowed by the negative aspects.

Because it is a very compact community with busy streets and lots of residents, the main entities standing out in this topic was the great variety of housing that it has. There are many living options that suit the commodities for any situation that each individual needs (excluding the homeless situation). 

The housing options in Capitol Hill are what seem to be divided into two sections.

The Northern side

• For those with large families and who desire bigger space, there are houses of all sizes and prices at the northern area of the neighborhood. It is also a great area that is much more peaceful with less noise and traffic for those who don't wish to be involved in the busy area.

The Southern side

• Those who wish to live in smaller spaces and don't live in a large group, there are multiple apartment complexes at the southern side of Capitol Hill. As seen in the images below, there are modern and old apartment buildings that provide a living environment that is directed towards the busy areas of the neighborhood.

In the neighborhood of Capitol Hill, we analyzed the community topics that were present in the area we visited:

• Community and Social Connectedness

There are many areas where people can come together as a community and bond, for example at clubs, bars, restaurants, 

• Housing, Houselessness and Encampments

The homeless encampments in the area are just one negative aspect of the community, but there are great living options for the commodity of each resident.

• Race, Ethnicity, and Culture

Capitol Hill is an extremely welcoming space for all sorts of backgrounds such as race, culture, sexual orientations, and much more.

• Public Spaces and Parks

There are multiple types of public space in the area, such as sports fields, parks, and even flower gardens open to the entire public. It is a great place to walk around and do all sorts of activities in open space.

• Transportation and Urban Planning

For a space with many residents, there are multiple forms of transportation for everyone. To have easy navigation there are streets for cars, cable buses for pedestrians, bike lanes, and easily accessible sidewalks.

Each of these community topics contribute towards the overall evaluation of Capitol Hill. For the topic based on housing and homelessness, I give it a solid 5. It is a wonderful neighborhood with lots of different housing options for the entire community (excluding the homelesss situation).