Symposium to examine displacement, homelessness research

Encampments, temporary shelters and other urgent issues related to shelter and displacement — with a strong Niagara focus — are the subject of Brock research being shared at an upcoming virtual symposium.

Shelter and Displacement: From Local to Global, co-hosted by Brock’s Social Justice Research Institute (SJRI), runs online Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of the Social Sciences Symposium Series. The event is open to members of the Brock and Niagara communities.

From the mental and physical health impacts of historical living conditions to the experiences of children staying at local shelters to Indigenous self-determination in urban spaces, the work presented will show many of the past, present and future challenges related to shelter and displacement. Much of the research to be presented was conducted by, for or with local Niagara organizations and individuals.

Speakers include faculty members, students and community partners:

  • Joanne Heritz, Political Science Teaching Assistant; Liam Midzain-Gobin, Assistant Professor of Political Science; and Mary Ellen Simon, Housing Programs Director at the Niagara Region Native Centre: “‘Making Home’ as Maintaining Indigenous Relationships”
  • Phillip Gordon Mackintosh, Professor of Geography and Tourism Studies: “The Neurasthenic ‘slum dweller’: Garment Workers in Toronto, circa 1900”
  • Kaitlyn Moore, a master’s in Applied Health Sciences student: “The Importance of Temporary Shelters in the Niagara Region”
  • Scott Neufeld, Assistant Professor of Psychology: “(Anti)Stigmacraft: Homeless encampments and (resisting) the politics of exclusion at work”
  • Rebecca Raby, Professor of Child and Youth Studies; Christine Tardif-Williams, Professor of Child and Youth Studies; Erika Alegria and Frederick Oppong, PhD in Child and Youth Studies students; and Luiza Mattos Jobim da Costa, a master’s in Critical Sociology student: “Amplifying the Experiences of Children Living in a Homeless Shelter with Their Families”

Dawn Zinga, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, says she is looking forward to listening to the presentations.

“This fifth event in the Social Sciences Symposium Series — and third collaboration with the SJRI — promises to be as engaging and enlightening as all of the others,” says Zinga. “The urgency of these subjects related to the theme of shelter and displacement should yield fascinating discussion, and we hope many in the community will join us.”

SJRI Director Tamara El-Hoss hopes the event will attract a wide audience of students, researchers and interested community members.

“This symposium addresses issues that are very pertinent today, whether in the Niagara region, the rest of the country or abroad,” says El-Hoss. “I encourage all who can attend to join us.”

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, but advance registration is required.


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