Photo from the US & THEM website

By Emily Keller

UNITED WAY ALBERTA NORTHWEST

Documentary about homelessness to be screened on World Homeless Day in Grande Prairie

Sep 26, 2019 | 11:59 AM

October 10th is World Homeless Day, and United Way Alberta Northwest will be screening a documentary about homelessness.

Called US & THEM, the film was made over a decade by filmmaker Krista Loughton who follows four chronically homeless people as they try to heal their lives.

This year, United Way Alberta Northwest is focusing on eight issues they see as unignorable and will be using the #UNIGNORABLE tag. Homelessness is one of those issues and has been an ongoing one.

This past summer, the encampments that had been set up in front of Rotary House had grown and were addressed by the city and moved to a secure temporary transition site near City Hall.

Jamie Craig, Executive Director of United Way Alberta Northwest, says it is not a surprise that it is a relevant issue.

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“Some people don’t choose to be homeless, some people are homeless because of our lack of affordable housing. Also, we have this entire opioid crisis right now and it’s kind of affecting every one of our cities. We’re not the only ones that has a tent city. Our neighbours like Edmonton has a tent city as well, even Peace River has a tent city popping up.”

Craig adds that many people have misconceptions of what can cause homelessness.

“If you don’t know these things and you think that maybe people choose to be homeless or choose to be addicted or choose to have mental health issues then you’re kind of just, uneducated.”

After the screening, there will be a short Q & A with a panel about issues in Grande Prairie.

Craig says ultimately, she wants this film to change ideas of homelessness.

“I want people to watch this movie and I want it to rip their hearts open. I want them to see that these are human beings, every single one of stories of the four individuals in this show, their backgrounds, the way they were raised, the things that they were put through. Anywhere from sexual assault to one of them attended a residential school. There’s reasons why these people are suffering.”

The screening is one of many that will take place across the country on World Homeless Day.

More information including tickets can be found here. The event will go from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on October 10 at St. John Paul II Catholic School Performing Arts Theatre in Grande Prairie.