Executive Director. N'Dinawemak - Our Relative's Place. Inner City Leader. Passionate About Indigenous Development.
Some very insightful thoughts from my friends at Main Street Project Inc. on why people choose to live in encampments as opposed to accessing the shelter network in Winnipeg. I would like to add some of my insights gained from several years of experience doing foot patrols in the community. Please add your questions or thoughts on the subject. 1. Many of our Relatives are institutionalized. I have heard on many occasions that shelters are 'like a jail'. Too many rules and regulations. 2. Our Relatives have been disappointed by the 'system' time and time again. When you have the chance to speak in depth with a Relative you start to get an appreciation of the thousands of times they have been let down, failed promises, programs that run for a while then shut down. It's no wonder they are not interested in what shelters have to offer. 3. As an Indigenous person I was never raised with the idea that living in a house (home) was the ultimate goal or dream in life. Somehow, based on the stories of my parents and elders, I always dreamed of life by a river or in the forest, my people around me, food, clean water and a fire. Sure, a place to stay was a part of it but not the main point. I suspect that many of our Relatives in the camps feel the same way and simply don't dream of a big house as being the ultimate goal in life. Peace and community are more important. Camp life doesn't solve a lot of problems but it adds a measure of peace and security. My hope for N'Dinawemak - Our Relatives' Place is that we can create a space where people can come and explore and choose to engage in a way that makes them feel some peace and safety. Our Relatives love someone and someone loves them. Be kind when you meet someone from a camp or on a street corner.
There are many reasons why a person may not access an emergency shelter and opt to sleep rough, including in an encampment: From A National Protocol on Homeless Encampments in Canada: “Shelters play a critical role in offering an emergency response for those without a home. However, people may experience barriers to accessing shelters or choose not to go. Barriers may include shelters being at capacity; having restrictions on pets, belongings or alcohol; separating couples; or requiring detailed intake criteria or processes. People may choose not to go to a shelter because they do not feel safe due to crowdedness, noise, past experiences of violence, previous negative experiences at shelters, perceived health or safety risks, accessibility concerns, stigma or shame. Emergency shelters cannot serve everyone's needs. For this reason, people may feel forced to choose between 'sleeping rough' on their own (putting themselves at risk of violence and criminalization), entering an emergency homeless shelter (which may be inaccessible or inappropriate for their needs, or in which their autonomy, dignity, self-reliance, and/or independence may be undermined), or residing in a homeless encampment (in which they may lack access to basic services and face threats to their health).” #MSPBuildingStability #Winnipeg #Manitoba
Vicki Nemeth
1mo
I dislike the National Protocol's formalized writing style. It's mincing words on how insulting and counterproductive the shelter experience is. Frankly, the drawn out sentences are obscurative and make it hard to criticize factual flaws in the summary. Disenchanted shelter survivors are not choosing *between* criminalization outdoors or something that apparently isn't that in a shelter where you're in a pressure cooker with more needy people than yourself and you still need your defensive weapon. They are not choosing *between* lack of services in a river camp or apparently services in a shelter that doesn't have room for you after you beg $10 in a different neighbourhood and then walk to the shelter only to waste time standing in line. They aren't choosing *between* health and violence risks out under the bridges or in a shelter area where Jeremy Skibicki was free to pick people out like commodities. Journalistic articles that quote disenchanted shelter survivors and street residents are more direct and will attract more useful audiences.
Ken St.George
1mo
Working on the river banks, many in encampments and bus shelters felt safer in those surroundings. The institutionalized lens you speak of is something I learned from listening to lived experience while supporting them with the resources I had in arm's reach, which was usually not enough. The answer, is rapid supportive housing, and personally I will not stop my own initiative until we all work together, to end homelessness and maintain that success. Thank you for sharing Frank
I have several young people that would agree with your thoughts, Frank. they love the community that they find from living in the encampments otherwise they feel very isolated and alone in the city. One of my youth has a home now, but he still spends several nights each week at the encampment with his friends, Catching up and having fun... and having fun LOL. I appreciate you sharing your perspective. Thank you.
Very well said! Specially point 3
Sean Rayland
1mo
Awesome post brother!
24/7 EIA Advocate Mike Chin
1moFrank Parkes hey Frank I've been homeless myself and I'd love to be apart of your staff I work with low income people all the time I've stayed at Main Street Project Inc. and Siloam Mission