A social stigma persists which views people in a situation of homelessness as social parasites or hopeless victims of addiction. Recognizing the human potential of marginalized people instead of seeing them as a criminal problem has been shown to be effective. But European decision-makers refuse to implement it.
Graham Douglas
In the film one innovative approach is shown from the inside, but it ended when the Covid pandemic subsided.
The film directors saw that a new vision based on trust and seeing people as individuals with potential was effective, and in the same way that Portugal is widely recognized as a successful innovator in the treatment of drug dependency, so people in situations of homelessness can also be helped by dropping the punitive reflex. A main goal of the Housing First programme is for re-housed homeless people to be integrated in the local community where they live. Previous approaches considered homeless people to be in need of preparation before being re-housed, Housing First begins with re-housing and it has proved very successful. This is part of a vision that emphasizes not the homeless individual but the social situation of the existence of homelessness.
This is not the only approach and handing money directly to homeless people also caught the interest of one of the filmmakers, for its potential to empowerment and reducing money wasted on outdated approaches.
The Prisma continued its conversation with Dorian Riviere and Zsofi Paczolay, directors of “I am here”.
You see larger possibilities for social change now?
Zsofi: The most important realisation for me was that this project worked not because of money but because of the relationships between residents and workers with deep communication, that built trust and dissolved social differences, judgements so that people felt respected human beings. Making eye contact, knowing each other’s names, listening to their needs helps people make the next steps in their revitalisation.
Teresa gave a passionate statement saying, “there is nothing like this in Europe, we are creating something completely new”.
Z: People could enter without any filtering: individuals or couples; with mental or physical problems, addictions; with their animals. The only rule was of zero tolerance for violence and drug or alcohol consumption inside the centre.
It was not just a shelter to sleep, counselling and work information were provided.
Dorian: It was important that it was run by volunteers, pro-actively, so people could develop their autonomy and share their opinions in weekly assemblies about how the centre was run.
There was no obligation, you could sit watching TV all day if you wanted. People had very different needs and you might expect chaos, but not at all – people realised that they would only make the place work by helping each other.
Z: The municipality delegated Teresa to set up this project. Teresa had not only a lot of experience in social work and activism but also had a very sharp vision about the guidelines that this place would rely on. On the other hand, having a pandemic created a special moment to find urgent solutions for the homelessness crisis, and people on the streets had no choice but to trust this initiation otherwise they had no help on the empty streets.
Portugal is known for its progressive drug policy – is anyone trying to get other cities or countries interested in communal projects like Casal Vistoso?
D: No, not at all: the funding has been cut.
The Housing First project is an EU program which started in 2010 and ran until the early 2020s.
The report on their work concluded that it was very successful, but the lack of funding and political will keeps it at a minimal level where it can’t develop.
Portugal had a serious problem with heroin use in the 1990s that needed a radical solution, and they began providing mobile methadone distribution centres and places for support of drug users.
We were very sad when they stopped funding the project, because it had demonstrated that it worked and was sustainable and it had developed a methodology that could be used in many other places.
Z: As Teresa says: poverty is a political choice, – it’s the decision-makers’ choice to keep people poor and they are becoming more repressive. The drug problem was solved because it was viewed as a health issue not a criminal one, which allowed them to open their minds and find a solution. This should be happening with the problem of homelessness, and it’s a choice not to do this.
After 10 months the municipality team with the leadership of Teresa had to hand over the project to another organization. They moved to a permanent place where they kept the main structure of the shelter, but applying a more hierarchical ideology which keeps people passive and believes that they must be controlled to stop them harming each other and society. They see people as a threat not a social potential. The sense of community and trust slowly faded out.
D: The fact that we are talking about it is important.
The difference is our awareness and understanding of this issue. Educating yourself about these systemic problems and the possible existing solutions is the ultimate resistance. The more people are aware and educated on this matter, and the more we can hope to shift society and mindsets towards more fair and efficient solutions. The solution starts with how we educate ourselves. People like Teresa who are capable of theorizing and applying efficient methodologies, need to be given tools. I’d like to believe that people can make their own decisions about use of public funding, and for this project to be seen as a model in Europe.
People are touched by the story in the film, but they also see how the system is impacting on their lives, because normally we are not encouraged to think about these things. We hope that the film will make these issues more visible.
There was a no smoking rule, but when someone made a complaint Teresa just told him that the reality was that there were people with drugs, and even weapons and there’s nothing we can do about it. If I’d heard that as a resident, I’d be seriously concerned. It only takes one incident.
Z: She had such a deep trust in people not resorting to violence when there is trust between members of the community. There was so much shouting and anger, and she would say: “yes, you are right, I hear you, but I would hear you better if you don’t shout.” If they searched peoples’ bags the trust would be lost.
D: How do you explain that in the whole 10 months there were no incidents involving weapons, even though there were arguments and fights? They were defused by the community. Being part of a supportive community, people are much more aware of the consequences of their own actions, including violence.
Teresa said that some of the people there had forgotten how to say something painful to another person without using violence. We saw many times that with a serious community commitment to trust, conflicts can be resolved without violence, even among people who were struggling with mental health and other problems. This community was built inclusively so that everyone could understand the need for trust and commitment on a deep level.
In dance clubs, doormen use metal detectors, but violence is often a result of conflict between drug dealers for money.
D: We need to understand that it was a big step of trust to come into this shelter when they were used to a repressive approach in other institutions, because they didn’t know that a different way is possible.
Trust and reciprocity, as a concrete methodology on a daily basis, brings an impressive change in the way people behave to each other, and it’s sustainable.
Although Teresa was very tolerant, some people unfortunately got excluded when they repeatedly broke the trust. But it was always about allowing people to feel safe, giving them space and responsibility for their growth and well-being.
(Photos and stills provided by Dorian Rivière and authorised for free publication in The Prisma.)
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