Contributed photo/Bridging Divides research team information pamphlet

The documentary that shines a light on the prevalence of homelessness in midsize regions

A four-year research project culminating in a documentary premiere at Cambridge’s Public Library on Water Street, Bridging Divides: Voices and Visions about homelessness in midsize communities took place on Nov. 18. The documentary had three scheduled viewings, one in Brantford, Cambridge and Guelph. 

“I’ve never been so proud to be a resident of Cambridge as I am tonight,” said Erin Dej, associate professor of criminology and member of the research team that put the project together.  

“We were so overwhelmed by the turnout, it was much more than we or the venue was expecting,” said Carrie Saunders, member of the research team and criminology professor. The documentary is a brokered dialogue, which is a relatively new research technique that has not been tested out in the field very much, said Sanders. Brokered dialogue is a type of research method where interview subjects’ responses are filmed and shared with other interviewees with the conversation being carried out through the  medium of film. It is a conversation between people without ever sitting face to face. The purpose of this film was to “foster a critical conversation and give people a safe space to facilitate dialogue on a topic that is often divisive and filled with a lot of emotions,” said Sanders. 

The documentary featured five interviewees from different walks of life as they shared their perspectives on homelessness in their community. A law enforcement officer, a social worker, a business owner, a community advocate and a person experiencing homelessness were all interviewed. The documentary is 50 minutes long and a structured discussion followed the viewing. A panel of professionals sat at the front of the room for 30 minutes, answering community questions surrounding homelessness.  

“All in all, we were happy, we felt the conversation was respectful but because we didn’t really know what to expect we left so happy with the amount of people that came out and stayed behind afterward to talk to us,” said Sanders.  

Marjorie Knight, a panel member, had the room captivated every time she took the microphone. As someone who has experienced homelessness in her life, Knight shared her thoughts freely as the questions were directed at her, “As a community we don’t even know who is homeless,” said Knight.  

Other members of the panel included Jose de Lima, social services worker and longtime resident of Cambridge. Carrie Anne Marshall, local resident and associate professor at Western university and Laura Pin, an associate professor at Laurier were vocal as panel members.  

The research team is also  happy with the feedback from the community. One person reached out to Sanders and in a note said, “I have been very ignorant about a problem that has been growing around me, and I need to do something.” 

 Sanders hopes that people walk away with a “better understanding of the complexity of the problem and a deeper appreciation for the various perspectives.” 

This article was originally published in print Volume 24, Issue 4 on Thursday, December 5.