By Spencer Sterritt

Op-ed: checking privilege and changing the conversation around homelessness

Apr 22, 2018 | 2:20 PM

NANAIMO — There were moments at Nanaimo’s most recent homelessness count I wish everyone had seen for some perspective on the issue. 

It was the look of confidence when someone experiencing homelessness received a free hair cut, looking presentable and refreshed. Staff and volunteers at the count say the difference between who sat in the chair and who stepped off of it was astounding, almost night and day. It’s something many of Nanaimo’s homeless could never afford, even if they were signed up for social assistance (which many are not).

Getting a haircut is something most Nanaimo citizens wouldn’t think twice about. I live in the northend but my barber is downtown, so I drive 10 minutes and spend $20 before heading back, all to make sure my hair doesn’t fall too far over my ears and get in my eyes. 

Think of how much of a challenge that would be for someone living on the street? Travelling across town, likely bringing most of their possessions for fear of having them stolen if stashed somewhere and having the cash for the cut. Even if they already lived close to a hair dresser, just getting through the door can be a challenge. 

Based on what I’ve seen in the community, especially online, I’m sure many homeless would be turned away from a haircut or a meal. For every positive comment  there’s usually two or three negative or dismissive comments. In covering this crisis I’ve seen anti-homeless sentiment spread and become more entrenched in the community, everything from saying we should send them elsewhere to believing there’s no help to give. 

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“You know, a lot of homeless people don’t want to be helped. They want to stay on the street,” is the one I hear the most, in casual coversation and on the record interviews. The idea those experiencing homelessness are taking advantage of taxpayers and getting a free ride is a common part of the larger conversation on the issue, but it’s one which rings false. Bring up the idea to anyone in the trenches fighting homelessness, from City staff to shelter volunteers, and they’ll tell you the idea couldn’t be further from the truth. Why would anyone want to live on the street, with limited help and the constant overbearing stress of worrying about where they’ll sleep and eat. 

If you do hear it from someone on the street, it’s not the life they want but the life they know. Shelter organizers say consistency is key when offering services and housing because change is frightening. Being suddenly removed from the street and dropped into affordable housing is a major and daunting change for many, just like how picking up and moving across the country for a new job and life would be difficult for anyone. 

I moved to Nanaimo from southwestern Ontario and it was a major change, but I had the supports in place to make sure the transition was seamless. Years of parental and employer support, a well-rounded education and a sense of purpose made the trip daunting but possible. But if I’d suddenly transitioned from one place and life to another, upheaving my entire routine, I’d be left adrift and scared. Anyone would, but we can make sure the transition off the street and into housing isn’t a constant uphill struggle.

To make any meaningful steps forward the community at large is going to have to open their eyes and hearts. Privilege needs to be checked and reckoned with to help those who have no privilege and never had the basic opportunities most of us did. We need to remember many on the streets didn’t have a safety net to fall back on and might not have learned how to cope with a changing world, properly express themselves and find ways out of unfortunate situations. 

It’s a big, tough task. Even though I try to be an advocate for those experiencing homelessness, I have to take a step back and take the time to think about what others have experienced. It’s easier to do when you’re at a shelter or speaking with a homeless person, but when you’re talking about the issue in the abstract or writing about homeless camps cropping up across Nanaimo, it’s hard to not complain and think negatively about the worsening situation. 

But complaining gets us nowhere. We need to harness all the energy we use talking down to homeless people and bemoaning the situation and instead turn it in a more positive, inclusive direction. We can’t lead the “not in my backyard” mentality spread any further than it already has. 

The expectation shouldn’t be to invite every homeless person you meet into your house for a meal, or to hand out sizable amounts of cash to panhandlers. The expectation should be to think of the homeless as a fallen brother or sister who needs a hand, rather than a shove away. 

I firmly believe if we can change the way we think about homelessness, cut out the increasingly negative social media posts and instead try to reframe our thoughts in a constructive way, the crisis will lessen instead of getting steadily worse. A compassionate and understanding world is an inviting one and by creating a warmer, friendly environment, we can hopefully bring Nanaimo’s many homeless in from the cold. 

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit