Thank you for your question. It touches on a complex and sensitive topic in urban design. The term "anti-homeless" or "anti-sleep" designs refer to elements of what is often called "hostile architecture." This includes public benches specifically engineered with dividers, slanted surfaces, segmented seating, or unusual materials to prevent people from lying down.
Yes, such products exist in the market. They are typically promoted under terms like "anti-loitering," "deterrent," or "uncomfortable" benches, aimed at discouraging prolonged sleeping. The primary intent cited by municipalities or businesses is to maintain accessibility, ensure turnover of users, and address specific maintenance or safety concerns in a public area.
However, it's crucial to address the broader context. Choosing this type of furniture is not merely a neutral design decision; it is a deeply impactful social policy choice made tangible. It directly targets some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities—people experiencing homelessness. While it may achieve a short-term visual goal of clearing a space, it does nothing to address the root causes of homelessness, such as lack of affordable housing, mental health support, or economic opportunity. It simply moves the visibility of the crisis elsewhere, often into more dangerous and unsanitary conditions.
Many urban planners, social advocates, and community members argue that public spaces should be inclusive and welcoming for all citizens. Instead of investing in exclusionary designs, a more humane and effective long-term solution involves investing in social services, supportive housing, and community resources that offer real help.
Ultimately, the question of installing such benches goes beyond procurement. It forces us to ask: what kind of cities do we want to build? Do we want spaces that manage discomfort through exclusion, or do we want to foster communities that tackle complex social challenges with compassion and substantive solutions? The bench becomes a symbol of that choice.