Build understanding. Respond with dignity.
For people working in public-facing roles, encounters with homelessness can raise difficult questions. How do we respond respectfully? When does someone need support? How can we distinguish an unfamiliar or uncomfortable situation from a safety concern?
Homelessness in Context creates space to explore those questions without losing sight of the systems and circumstances that shape them.
Grounded in lived expertise and professional knowledge, this workshop introduces the causes and impacts of homelessness, challenges common assumptions, and helps participants identify practical responses within the boundaries of their roles.
What to expect
The workshop begins with an introduction to homelessness and the systemic conditions that contribute to housing insecurity. Participants explore how stigma and trauma can shape everyday interactions, including the effects of language, assumptions, and organizational practices.
Through discussion and scenario-based learning, we consider respectful communication, approaches to reducing escalation, and when and how to connect with appropriate services.
Participants are encouraged to examine their own responses, ask questions, and think through situations they may encounter in public, clinical, or community settings.
The focus is on realistic responsibilities: recognizing concerns, responding with care, and knowing where to turn for additional support.
Learning objectives
Participants will have opportunities to:
- Describe key features of homelessness in the relevant local or national context.
• Recognize how homelessness, stigma, and trauma can affect health, dignity, and interactions with services.
• Distinguish personal discomfort from circumstances that raise safety concerns.
• Identify respectful communication practices that reduce stigma and the potential for escalation.
• Recognize the boundaries of their role and when additional support is needed.
• Identify appropriate outreach, crisis, and emergency referral pathways.
• Apply their learning to realistic scenarios.
Who it’s for
Public-facing staff, healthcare workers, students, festival and event teams, community organizations, and others who encounter homelessness through their work.
Originally developed for student tour guides in downtown Ottawa, the workshop has been adapted for broader audiences seeking practical, compassionate approaches to everyday interactions.
Session details
Preferred duration: 90 minutes, including discussion and scenario-based learning.
Facilitation: Two co-facilitators, including at least one person with lived experience of homelessness.
Materials: Access to presentation materials and a take-home resource sheet.
Ottawa and national versions are available. Local service information and referral content are discussed during planning to ensure they are appropriate to the session’s context.
Prepare your team for a thoughtful conversation about hard moments
You don’t need to have every answer to respond with dignity and compassion. This workshop helps teams build shared understanding, recognize their responsibilities, and identify the support available around them.
Contact us to discuss your audience, context, and delivery arrangements.