Why I work for Homeless Nation
Homeless Nation is a non-profit organization that focuses on giving a voice to homeless people across the country. As of last Monday, I work for them. Here’s why.
First, from the site:
There are tens of thousands of homeless people in Canada, with no address, no vote, nameless and faceless, and yet there is almost no documentation (statistical or personal) made by them or about them as a community or as individuals. If we continue to accept this status-quo of invisibility, an entire generation of homeless people will pass away without a trace.
People are speaking a lot these days about media democratization. In a previous podcast, I talk about democratization of power, as well as how to get there. Still, these goals are far off, despite the fact that everyone’s convinced how close we are. The power of media creation is still in the hands of the rich – those with expensive computers, broadband connections, and the necessary knowledge. And let’s not forget how difficult it is to create stuff when you’re working hard trying to support yourself (and your family, in certain cases).
When I look at Homeless Nation, I see people actively working to topple that structure. They give homeless people what is necessary to reach people, just like podcasters and videobloggers are trying to reach people. They aren’t deciding what’s worthy – instead, they’re placing that in the hands of their users. For that reason, I want to be a part of what they’re doing.
Next week, I’ll be working with them at ATSA (roughly translated, Socially Acceptable Terrorist Action) for a week in the park at Berri-UQAM, doing all sorts of audio and video recordings, interviews, etc. Come by if you’d like, we’d love to see you there.
Anyway, I’ll probably end up blogging more about what I’m going through with these guys as time goes on. Thanks to everyone that’s shown support for what I’m doing. You can subscribe to the Homeless Nation RSS feed here.
Also of interest: 2007 Homelessness Marathon
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November 21st, 2006 at 3:37 pm
cool – sounds great.
November 24th, 2006 at 9:57 am
The sucker revolution…
Jesus Christ, it’s busy, isn’t it? Even so, it is well worth some of your time to nip over to gapingvoid and read the mini-manifestoes therein. Hugh will explain – “Why take 50,000 words [the length of your average business……
April 30th, 2007 at 11:51 am
i can truly understand what homeless people go through because I was homless for one year of my life and now I am apllying to social work graduate school to advocated on behalf all homeless individuals in order to make a change in housing laws. thank you.
January 31st, 2009 at 6:09 pm
IS HOMELESS NATION INVOLVED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY
WITH TENT CITY VICTORIA? I FIND THAT THIS IS MORE
OF A PARTY OR GATHERING FOR DODDS, JOHNSTON, & WOODRUFF. THE VICTORY WEARS THIN AFTER A SHORT TIME.
I THINK THAT HOMELESS FOLKS SHOULD GO WHERE THE WORK
IS LOCATED. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THOSE IN NEED TO ASK
FOR HELP AND KEEP ASKING SOCIAL AGENCIES UNTIL THEY GET POSITIVE RESULTS. I HAVE A CHRONIC CONDITION CONTROLLED BY MEDICATION. I WORK PART TIME. I ASK MY PARENTS FOR HELP ONCE IN AWHILE. I ENJOY LIFE INSTEAD OF DWELLING ON PAST MISTAKES. LIFE IS GOOD! GOOD LUCK HOMELESS NATION…