Exposure to us, the undesirables? : homelessness seen and told by people experiencing homelessness

In collaboration with the Répit Basse-Ville, Engrenage Saint-Roch presents a new exhibition throughout the month of October.ou, the undesirables?. The latter focuses on homelessness, but with the perspective and participation of the first people affected by this issue.

This project us, the undesirables? seeks to “make visible realities and forms of occupation of public spaces, often identified as undesirable”.

This exhibition can be seen in the window of the Saint-Roch church and in the premises of L’Engrenage Saint-Roch. The latter is accessible every Thursday in October, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Saturday October 5 and 26 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The choice to broadcast the exhibition in October also echoes the Night of the Homeless. This event also takes place during the same month.

“The idea was to raise awareness among the general population throughout the month of October and not just on October 18,” explains Val, peer support worker at Répit Basse-Ville.

A participatory process

Le Répit Basse-Ville was also involved in the project.

“We went to find the first people concerned to make their voices heard and collect their messages. Our first was to try to mobilize them and get them to participate,” underlines Kassandra, peer helper at Répit Basse-Ville.

Consultations and meetings were organized to gather the feelings of people experiencing homelessness. Some questions focused on their emotions, their experiences, homelessness in public places, among others.

“There was a consultation on the square with several tables. We unrolled a long paper and people could come and write what they felt,” explains Val.

Citizens also shared anecdotes, stories and ideas.

The window of the Saint-Roch church is also the result of three artistic workshops Pack your box, Traces and testimonies, Crossed perspectives and Homelessness 100 faces, 100 polaroids.

Give visibility to certain realities

With this exhibition, one of the main objectives is to “make the works and the main people involved speak”.

“We wanted to convey a message through art. We were able to do this in collaboration with Répit and L’Engrenage. We were able to reflect the other things that were happening inside the Respite,” says the helping pair Val.

For example, the Répit Basse-Ville led the artistic initiative 100 polaroids. For this project, the concept was to photograph the portrait of a diversity of individuals, with a Polaroid camera and drawing inspiration from the photographic style of Andy Warhol.

“I went to take photos at the Projet Intervention Prostitution Québec (PIPQ), at L’Engrenage, at Pech-Sherpa, la Maison Revivre and at Répit Basse-Ville. It allowed me to create bonds with the person who was in front of the camera, to restore their respect or to open the discussion. […]. Every person has a story. Some were previously teachers and nurses,” she says.

“It was difficult to reach people to take the photos, because they are already stigmatized, but we still achieved a good result with colleagues and other organizations. I wanted to show a beautiful diversity of humans. »

According to her, it is a way to show that “no one is safe from homelessness”.

“It does not rest solely on organizations and governments, but everyone has a responsibility to take regarding homelessness […]. Homeless people are being chased everywhere. The police intimidate them,” says Val.

“The exhibition is perhaps a way of initiating discussion with the first people concerned, other citizens of the neighborhood and of calling for tolerance,” conclude Val and Kassandra.

This article was produced by Anne Charlotte Gillain, journalist fromLocal Journalism Initiative.