Workshop and Booklet «Homelessness» on Facts and Figures for Social Tour Guides in Swiss, German and Austrian Cities

Abstract

In Switzerland homelessness is underresearched. This results in poor knowledge among the general population, ignorance, stereotypes and dismissive attitudes towards homeless people. According to own research findings, the experience of homelessness is associated with shame and personal responsibility among affected people, while structural reasons for homelessness are less mentioned and often not known at all. Furthermore, for people affected by homelessness it is difficult to claim for (social) rights; they rather reproduce a perception of homelessness as fate (“I cannot do anything about it”), construct a process of self-degradation (“I worth nothing”) and show a distinctly accepting attitude (“It’s my fault”). This one-sided, unbalanced, and inaccurate acceptance of responsibility for homelessness is the starting point for the project. In cooperation with the International Network of Social Tours INST and the Swiss social tour guides (former homeless people) we develop a 3-day training for social tour guides from Switzerland, Germany and Austria (60-80 participants). Furthermore, to sensitize a general public about exclusion and living realities related to homelessness and to contribute to a changing public understanding of homelessness which evokes appreciative, supporting and inclusive public reactions in favour of people experiencing homelessness we conceptualize together with the Swiss social tour guides a booklet (facts and figures, lifeworld experiences, etc.). The scientific information to be disseminated about structural components of homelessness will reinforce the sensitizing effect that social tour guides already have during their tours by narrating biographical aspects and personal experiences. By this, the broad public will be offered an increased impact on social and sociopolitical change based on a more differentiated understanding of homelessness.