Mr Stink

In Mr. Stink, the title character is ostracized because of his poverty and circumstances as an unhoused person. Because of the townspeople’s classist attitudes, Mr. Stink lives a lonely life on a wooden bench in the park with only his dog, Duchess, for company.

Chloe and corner store owner Raj discuss this problem, agreeing that it is disheartening that so many unhoused people are ignored by their neighbors: “Too many people walk on by and pretend they’re not there. […] Any of us could become homeless one day” (51). This conversation emphasizes the fragility of societal stability and depicts recognition of the humanity in everyone, regardless of their circumstances. 

While kind-hearted people like Raj and Chloe want to acknowledge Mr. Stink and the fact that hard times can befall anyone, many people in the town look down on unhoused people. Chloe’s mother, Mrs. Crumb, is a snobbish character who harshly judges unhoused people like Mr. Stink. Her belief that unhoused people are worth less than others, and her perception of them as “creatures” perpetuates a dangerous stigma of unhoused people as less worthy of care and consideration. As a political candidate, Mrs. Crumb tries to galvanize the town to oust unhoused people from their streets.