DigiActive.org

Campaign: Homeless Nation offers a place to tell stories and interact

Description: Homeless Nation was started by Daniel Cross, a documentary filmmaker who has highlighted Canada’s homeless population in several of his films. While gathering thousands of stories given by the homeless, most of which wouldn’t fit into the films, Cross envisioned a space where these reports wouldn’t be lost.

He thus created a social network that not only brought many of these stories to the forefront, but offered continued opportunities for sharing and interaction between the homeless and those interested in listening.  Furthermore, part of their mission is “ensuring that digital tools for media, learning and communication are made available for homeless Canadians.”

Tools: Internet, podcasting, video

Application: Armed with donated computer and video equipment, Homeless Nation “outreach workers” go to various drop centers (shelters, day-centers, squatting areas, etc) located in several Canadian metropolitan centers and create audio, video or written testimonials from the homeless, while also providing them internet and computer training.  Additionally, they provide a place online to find resources that offer food, shelter, healthcare etc.

It allows the homeless, who would otherwise not have access to the sorts of web-based communities that many of us are used to, to join in conversation, make connections with people and have a voice they may not otherwise have.

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