This week I have been exploring many different subjects...
It all started on last Tuesday, after Monica's presentation on the Homeless People Project. I felt that her underlying story of the homeless people was very strong but at the same time I couldn't help noticing that she wasn't communicating it in the right way...
Then on Friday evening at the film elective Robin showed us District 9.
Because of the horrifying images of blood and the exposed body parts I had to watch this movie through my fingers and felt really sick afterwards. But at the same time in a weird way I really loved it!!! I though that the way the filmmakers presented it was just brilliant!
The film makes a statement about inhumanity in the irony of Wikus becoming more humane as he becomes less human. Throughout the movie, he becomes more aware of the aliens' plight, eventually helping them escape the planet, even turning on his own species to do so. Chris Mikesell from Ka Leo notes that inhumanity is a deep-rooted theme throughout. He writes: "Substitute 'black,' 'Asian,' 'Mexican,' 'illegal,' 'Jew,' or any number of different labels for the word 'prawn' in this film and you will hear the hidden truth behind the dialogue". Alien eggs are destroyed before birth and described as popcorn. He feels that District 9 shows the corruption humans are capable of. M.N.U., the corporation in charge of protecting the aliens, are actually taking away captured aliens and using them as experiments in order to be able to use their weapons.
What is Homelessness?
http://www.thamesreach.org.uk/homelessness-facts-and-figures/
The 1985 Housing Act explains that a person is homeless if there is nowhere they have a legal right to occupy or if they can't occupy their home safely or with reasonable comfort.
Sleeping rough is just the tip of the iceberg. Homeless people also live in squats, bed and breakfasts, hostels, caravans and other forms of temporary accommodation. Most people living on the streets have serious underlying problems. Some people do not want to come off the streets. For many homeless people this is their lifestyle.
• Each year at least 2,400 people spend some time sleeping rough in London.
• On any given night about 400 people sleep rough in London.
• It is estimated that in England 2,000 people sleep rough each night.
• Almost 1/3 of all homeless people live outside big cities. It’s a nation wide problem.
• 40% of young people on the streets have been in Local Authority Care.
• The average life expectancy of a homeless person is 42.
The different types of homelessness can be summarised as follows:
• Longer-term ‘street people’ from all ages and backgrounds, many of them particularly vulnerable to addictions, prostitution, exploitation and mental illness.
• Those who stay in short-term hostels, moving from one to another. The total number of
available bed spaces is currently reducing.
• Family homelessness with those affected placed in temporary or bed and breakfast
accommodation – but only if not regarded as ‘intentionally homeless’.
• ‘Hidden homelessness’ with people sleeping on friend's floors or in their garages,
squatting, or sleeping in cars. It is a large problem but difficult to quantify.
• Threatened homelessness through mortgage default or loss of employment which has
accommodation provided.
The Roots of Homelessness:
Some of the street people we meet have been homeless for many years; some have grown
up in a culture associated with homelessness. Others, however, have previously had
responsible jobs, owned homes and have cared for families. For them it’s something they
could never have imagined happening, and is often the result of some trauma which has
resulted in their life spiralling downwards until they finally end up on the streets.
In our experience the most common reason given for the first episode of homelessness is a
relationship breakdown, either with a partner or with parents. This may involve a divorce,
the death of a loved one or rejection from the family unit. The loss of contact with relations
can be psychologically very destructive.
More specifically, we have found the following factors to be triggers, which can lead to
homelessness.
A violent or abusive family
Young people in particular often leave home due to some abusive situation. This could
include violence, sexual abuse or threatening behaviour by a parent, step-parent or a parent's
new partner. One study found that 40% of young women who become homeless had
experienced sexual abuse in childhood or adolescence.
Women struggling with domestic violence can also become ‘homeless’ and end up living in
a women's refuge.
Although rare, we have come across cases where the man of the house was subject to
domestic violence.
Conflicts with parents or a parent’s new partner
Research done by Centre point amongst young homeless people across the country found
that 86% had been forced to leave home rather than having chosen to.
A survey in Scotland found that a 1/4 of young homeless people had a step-parent.
Another cause, particularly for young runaways, is an unhappy and unstable family home.
Family crises such as the death of a parent, partner or child
This is a major factor in homelessness. I am becoming increasingly aware of the amount of
people who have turned to drink or drugs or developed a mental illness after the death of a
loved one. It seems that the death of a mother, in particular, has an enormous impact on
people. The cycle of addiction or mental illness can then lead to homelessness.
Break-up of marriage
People that are homeless are five times more likely to have been divorced. The break-down
of a marriage carries deep regret, pain and, in many cases, guilt.
The following situations and circumstances also appear to make people more prone to
becoming homeless and ending up on the streets:
Mental illness
A staggering 30-50% of rough sleepers suffer from mental health problems. For the vast
majority, 88%, these problems began before they were homeless.
Addictions
As many as 50% of rough sleepers have a serious alcohol problem and 20% misuse drugs.
Drug problems are more likely amongst younger rough sleepers.
Many of the people seen begging on the streets are doing so in order to pay for their addiction.
It is therefore a better idea to offer to purchase food for them rather than to givemoney.
Redundancy
The loss of a job can have great impact on a person’s sense of self-worth and value, which
can also lead to depression and be the start of a downward spiral.
Institutional backgrounds
• Local Authority care : Between a quarter and a third of rough sleepers have been looked
after by Local Authorities as children. Unlike other young people who leave home, they
have lacked any kind of on-going parental support and a place to belong.
• Prison : Half of rough sleepers have been in prison or in a remand centre at some point in
their lives. Research shows that 40% of prisoners are homeless on release. Those who have
been in prison then have great difficulty finding housing and jobs.
• The Armed Forces : Studies have found between a fifth and a quarter of rough sleepers
had been in the services at some time. Many ex-service men have great problems
resettling. It has also been our experience that some have experienced traumatic events
that have resulted in long-term damage.
Beyond the Obvious
It’s very clear that beyond the obvious material needs of homeless people there are many
psychological and emotional difficulties. In our experience, many seem to suffer with the
following:
• A sense of hopelessness
This can present itself in a lack of motivation, a ‘living for now’ mentality, a dropping out
and escapist tendency and an aversion to any sort of commitment.
• A distorted life view
This may include distorted views towards work, family, love, authority, money, marriage
and themselves.
• Unresolved Pain
Many homeless people suffer with unresolved pain, and few have any idea what to do
about it.
"ON THE STREETS"
Acclaimed director Penny Woolcock's first documentary in 10 years saw her spending
eight months with homeless people in London.
Here she describes the filming process and what she learned about
the true nature of homelessness in the capital...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2010/nov/06/sheffield-doc-fest-penny-woolcock
Grierson Trustee and fellow film-maker Peter Symes said:
"Penny Woolcock is a fearless documentary film maker – unafraid to approach difficult subjects, to question accepted mores, or to fight for what she believes in. She manages to do this without in any way losing her humanity or compassion. A joy to work with if you are behind the camera, she never loses faith with those who agree to appear in front of it."
Penny’s latest documentary On The Streets, was shot over eight months with rough sleepers and vulnerably housed people, giving the seen but unheard residents of London’s streets a voice. "Food is the least of our problems," says Derek, a contributor, and over the months making her film, Woolcock realised the problems of homeless people have very little to do with the lack of a roof over their heads or a bed to sleep in. Their problems come from their past lives, and are less easy to remedy. Despite the efforts of different charities to move people into homes, the streets are what homeless people know best, and often where they feel safest.
TO WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00vtwp1/On_the_Streets/
Pauly Richard's Photographic Tendencies
End Homelessness Now! Project #15
MY OBJECTIVE FOR THIS PROJECT:
Rebuilding the homeless' houses with the medium of Film and Photography.
I want to tell the story of homelessness … show the true emotions, the pain, tragedy, helplessness… through images and film projection.
Memory… psychological approach through the medium of film, projection and sound.
The screen isn't just a dead window or a dead hole into a view. The screen itself can blossom.
Without memory it is impossible to build for the present…
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