Tim Cresswell (2006) notes that place is something we experience. For the homeless these places can be “communal or shared spaces, the possession or consumption of which cannot be entirely privatized” (Lefebvre, 1991, p.57). Often, those same public spaces are “closed off to the urban poor and homeless” (Kaplan, 2008, p.2). Place, however, is not synonymous with space. Places are “material things with definite shape and substance” (Cresswell, 2007, p. 51), whereas spaces are conceived of as being “transformed into a 'lived experience' by a social subject” (Lefebvre, p. 190). A space cannot become a place without human input and interactions. In exploring the following narratives, it is interesting to keep in mind the views of French sociologist and philosopher Michael Foucault, who notes the link between space and power. He writes that “space is fundamental in any exercise of power” (as cited in Hurley, 2008, p. 190).
There is a daily struggle to survive; competing for jobs means having clean clothes and a tidy appearance. Yet, when it comes to accessing public places such as the showers at the local pool, there are often barriers created for homeless individuals. These barriers may exist because the behaviour of the homeless are “judged as inappropriate in a particular location – literally as actions out of place” (Cresswell, 1996, p. 10). Trevor, one of the homeless who participated in the project tells me that being homeless in a small town means having to make do with limited services. He says even attempting to use a washroom or a shower can be a complicated process.
"You gotta [sic] either know people or spend money, which is harder. 'Cause you go to the pool […] the pool's a good one, but it costs $5. Being homeless you don't have time to swim, 'cause you gotta get in, have a shower, get out and go do all this [other] stuff so you're not homeless. If there's one thing about being homeless, it's that not only is it a Catch-22 situation – it's do this to get that done – but you need this for that to start. It's an endless, endless cycle."
Asking to use a friend or family member's shower can be a cheaper option for cleanliness; however, Alex tells me this can also become difficult. “You're always bugging people: 'Hey, can I have a shower?‟ here, or cook something here or … it gets a little annoying after a while,” Alex says. While there are a few toilets available for the public to use free of charge, Rick reveals that in years past, at least one homeless individual was barred from entering a washroom at City Hall.
"City Hall has a public [washroom] there, but I know there was somebody who was homeless in years past who would go in there and I think was asked not to. Because the guy, he was on the street, didn't smell very nice and he was dirty when he‟d come in. I think staff there kind of think that's staff's washroom so they felt uncomfortable."
Public washroom facilities are not the only places where Revelstoke's homeless population may struggle to gain access. Lisa, another homeless participant, tells me of a night she spent sleeping in the dug-out at the local ball diamond. The following morning, she was refused service at a local coffee shop.
"I had one incident where I was refused service because my clothes was [sic] dirty. And that's the night I had to spend down at the ball park because I was locked out. And I was refused service the next day because my clothes was [sic] dirty. And I was 'I'm gonna blow up this 'effin restaurant.‟ I just went nuts. I said 'Listen, I was outside because I was locked out, and of course I'm not gonna [sic] be dressed up to the nine because I slept outside. So you're not gonna serve me a coffee?‟ Then I went strange: 'I'm gonna blow up this fucking place!‟ He says, 'You can't do that, that's uttering threats, I could charge you for it.‟ I said, 'Fly right at it, phone the cops.' They did let me have the coffee … to go."
An often unspoken pattern that reflects a spatial power play is a practice where homeless individuals are removed completely from a particular community. “Greyhound Therapy” is a phenomenon where individuals who are unwanted in a community are provided with a bus ticket, often to a rural destination where it is believed the rental housing market is more affordable. While Revelstoke is often on the receiving end of Greyhound Therapy, there have also been cases where individuals have been sent via bus to other communities; these are usually larger centres where homeless shelters and soup kitchens may be available. Still, the idea of Greyhound Therapy is something Mike says he can't accept.
"It doesn't fit well for me, it doesn't fit well for our community, how we do things. I think the people that are part of the different organizations really feel a sense of ownership in Revelstoke, really try to make it work, which is cool."
Mike tells me that for social service providers trying to help the homeless and homeless-at-risk, the lack of available resources can often be frustrating. The absence of available and permanent shelter, of course, is a central and chronic concern. But the minimal financial resources available to service providers means they are limited in their ability to house the homeless in even temporary accommodations; such provisional shelter is useful while assisting the homeless in finding more permanent housing that is safe and affordable.
"Professionally, obviously [there have been] several incidents on an ongoing basis where people come in and look for help. And so often they start here or other agencies will refer them to us, which is frustrating in the sense we don't have the economic capacity to actually help them."
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