Listen to what we are saying, please listen and try to understand" : Homeless voices, part 3 : what we heard from metro Vancouver residents who have experienced homelessness

In keeping with the theme of ‘housing choice’ in the Call to Action, people who have experienced homelessness made it clear that providing health and social supports in connection with housing is felt to be necessary for some. [...] Homeless people need to be treated with dignity.” – Interview participant, 2009 Purpose The purpose of this report, the third in a series, is to present the perspectives of people who have experienced being with no fixed address - so that decision makers can respond to homelessness more effectively. [...] For example, one person suggested: “not in the middle of Hastings, or near the drug neighbourhood; within a block or 3 of bus routes.” Another said they would prefer the housing to be in Vancouver but “outside the Downtown Eastside.” Just one participant said the Downtown Eastside would be preferred, emphasizing the importance of access to the Carnegie Centre, elders and friends in the community. [...] One suggested that a way to address this is to “give people bus passes this helps people to move on and out of their comfort zone.” Another common theme is the experience of difficulty in making the lifestyle changes associated with moving from long- term homelessness to living indoors. [...] To go from having people to do things for you like make a meal and then you have to do it and then you start thinking about it and thinking about it and it causes anxiety.