Chapter 10: Tales of Perception: Interactions with Revelstoke's Homeless Population

There's this story I've been reading and I don't know if maybe it's because when you think of something for a long period of time you manifest that sort of thing, right? So then I was reading this book and it [was about a] woman who lived out in the bushes and they used to say she was a shape shifter and she would go in the bush and shape shift into a wolf and she could be out in [minus] 40 degree weather and people would be out walking in the forest, offering her a place in the winter time, and she refused because she said it was too hot for her inside the house in the winter time (Michelle).

     As has already been said, one of the barriers to understanding the scope of homelessness has to do with a lack of visible spaces occupied by the homeless in more rural settings --spaces where the homeless can easily be spotted, such as a park bench or a door way. If we consider the definition of absolute as being the marker of homelessness, then the lack of visibility would suggest there is no homeless “problem” in Revelstoke or other rural centres. When non-homeless participants were asked to describe experiences where they had interacted with the homeless, they often made mention of persons who, while they felt they had difficult life circumstances such as addictions, did not meet their definition of homeless.

     “There's sweet old [name rescinded], but I think she has a home, I'm not really sure,”Michelle tells me, making a reference to Lisa, one of the homeless participants. Often, during the course of our conversation together, non-homeless participants would make comments such as these, stating that while they felt some of “those people” had unfortunate life circumstances, it wasn't certain whether they would fit into the category of “homeless.”

     Lottie adamantly denied the prospect of there being a significant homeless population in  Revelstoke, saying: “I hope that you have seen enough people to know they actually have a roof over their head.” However, some of the non-homeless participants, Lottie included, did make references to experiences they had with the homeless. Lottie tells me that she has tried to interact with one individual who is recognized as being homeless, likely because this person prefers to live outside.

"I've tried to give her something like sandwich or something she doesn't want it, she doesn't want charity. Another time I [saw] her by the thrift shop, she [went to] use the bathroom and I pet her dog I was OK that way, but other times [it's] “Don't talk to me, I don't want charity,” that kind of thing."

Lottie's experience with homelessness in Revelstoke extends back to her childhood, as she recalls as a young girl driving along the highway with her family and seeing a homeless man:

"I can remember my parents saying, “Look at that hobo, I'm gonna pick him up.” So there on the highway you could pick them [homeless] up, but at that time there were people that were mentally ill and they boozed themselves and stuff."

Both Sherry and Michelle communicated experiences where safety was a central theme. For Michelle, this manifested as a fear for her personal safety; whereas for Sherry it was more of a concern for a group of women who were staying at her guesthouse. In Michelle's case she had attempted to forge a relationship with a homeless man, who then verbally abused her.

"There was one tall guy. He kind of freaked me out a couple of times because he used to call me bitch, just really nasty names. […] You'd always see him in the dumpster looking for bottles and stuff, right. At one point and time I went up and I tried to talk to him and it was fine, it was when he was sober. And then the next time that I saw him he called me “bitch” just for no reason at all. It's when I used to live by the Regent [bar and hotel]. I was there and I used to walk there all the time and I'd be in there and he'd stop at the door and just start calling me names left, right, and centre. So I ended up getting the cops over."

     While Sherry's experience with safety concerns did not involve the police, she did once turn away someone she suspects may have been homeless, who was seeking a room for the night, after it became apparent to her that a group of female guests she had at the time were extremely uncomfortable with the situation unfolding. For her, she says it can sometimes create conflict between wanting to help and sustaining her business and ensuring repeat business from paying guests.

"I've had so little experience with homelessness here, other than the odd person who is coming in and looking for a place. And I always feel terrible. It always puts me in an awkward position because I run a business and the people I have aren't always comfortable with having a homeless person here. I've thought about in the off-season, when it's really quiet having [homeless] people. But, when I took over this place it was low rental accommodation and I did such extensive [renovations]. There were urine smells in the carpet, and I heard rumours about the bedbugs here before that I had to overcome."

However, Sherry has taken chances on occasion, opening her guesthouse during quieter times to those who may have $20 in their pocket. “I don't require a credit card,” she says. Sherry has also provided shelter for a homeless individual connected with Income Assistance. While she said the person who stayed for the night was fine, it was the months of waiting to get payment from the Ministry of Housing and Social Development that left her frustrated and wondering if she'd be so accommodating should the same situation come up again.

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