Introduction
In an ideal world, the solution to ending homelessness would be pretty simple: give everyone a home. Regardless of whether they are sleeping on a park bench, in a shelter, newly released from prison, if they have no where to call home, an addiction or a mental illness, whatever their circumstance, give them somewhere to call their own and their homelessness will be solved. It doesn’t have to be anything too palatial. A small private space, with a door they can lock when they go out and a key to open it when they come back. Of course, they need to be able afford that space, sustain themselves, take care of themselves, and be self-sufficient. And if they can’t do that, then non-obtrusive yet supportive systems must be put in place to ensure they can.
There. Simple. Poof. Homelessness solved.
But of course, we do not live in an ideal world. Not even close. We do not live in a world where all it takes to ensure homelessness ends is to provide a space, of any size, that someone can call their own.
It’s not that simple. One size does not fit all. One roof will not house all.
People come in many sizes and many different and complex circumstances, not all of their own making.
Homelessness has many faces. And the solution to providing a place to call home comes through many doors.
This paper investigates the contextual reality of the ‘homeless shelter’ as a place of value in a homeless individual’s life. A place where ‘shelter’ becomes the means of helping someone begin to find their rightful place in society, where ever that may be.
Through case studies of three individuals at the Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre (DI), this paper presents a historical perspective of the experiences of these individuals as they moved from absolute homelessness to sheltered status at the DI and their subsequent attempts to re-access housing – and a more sustainable “normal” societal existence – in the mainstream of society. It also critically, presents a ‘street view’ of lessons learned in the journey through homelessness to a state of actually being housed. Through examining their unique experiences and perspectives of homelessness, an alternative perspective of the role of ‘the shelter’ in a person’s life is presented.
Always interesting to hear the different perspecitves of homelessness.
Thanks for giving me a well written description of how life is on the cold and wet streets of Calgary. It took me a long time to finally find an organisation who is doing exactly what our organisation is doing for the past 12 years
If you wish to compare organisations, please do not hesitate and check out the streetlife in the heart of Europe; namely Luxembourg.
I am a canadian who has resided in Luxembourg since 1980 and am an active volunteer in the redaction since the year 2000.
Keep up the good work you are doing in Calgary and try not to give another bald headed man a comb or a toothless man a nice juicy steak. You can help some people, some of the time, but you can’t help everybody, all of the time.
Heads up and I hope to hear from you in the near future.
Yours Truly,
George E. Nixon
Thank you George for your encouraging words! And thank you for what you do. I shall definitely check out the work in Luxembourg.
so true — you can help some of the people, some of the time, but you can’t help everybody, all of the time.
Cheers!
Louise