Helping without Policing behaviour

Today while driving home I saw a man curled up in a bus shelter.

I live in a fairly low-income neighborhood where I’ve witnessed many individuals taking shelter outdoors in bus shelters or parks. In the past I would call the non-emergency hotline to the police to notify them of this situation. Not because I was annoyed or felt endangered by their presence, but out of genuine concern yet inadequate knowledge of how to help. I called the police because they are the symbol of problem solvers in my culture. I grew up understanding the police as a resource that I could rely on. The privileged bubble I inhabit has afforded me many luxuries, but a neutral relationship with law enforcement is not something I thought to be a privilege.

Therefore in reflection of the man I saw this evening I continued to think further about forms of support in Edmonton for marginalized populations that did not require police intervention. For this man’s circumstances I utilized the Hope mission ministry van, which Shawna pointed out is a problematic shelter for women and trans* folk. Yet importantly they do respond to calls to find transient people in need transportation to a Hope shelter. Furthermore Shawna mentioned Streetworks, which began as Needleworks operating as a needle exchange. Now their van will drive around giving out a variety of condoms to street workers and support to access a variety of services. They’re sponsored by a conglomerate of organizations, one of which is Edmonton Police service. I’m unsure though quizzical of how this service is perceived by sex workers in light of that information. Finally is the Crossroads Outreach Van which is a van run by Crossroads Outreach (E4C), a service dedicated to much of the same work as Kindered House (but without the house). Their van also provides condoms and needle exchanges for “folks involved with street-based sex work and for those who are engaging with survival sex”, as explained on their website.

All three of these services seek to offer resources and support to transient populations and sex workers without bringing them in direct contact with the police. Yet in some circumstances this still does not mitigate power relations between support services and the population which access them. Although I have not researched the topic thoroughly I was Enlighted by Shawna’s presentation on the services provided by Kindered House. Most interesting was the relationship formed between staff and the women who utilized Kindered House. There existed a clear lack of “come and be saved” attitude I had characterized as integral to social work. Though this assumption is largely due to my own experiences within religious institutions. What I took away from Shawna’s presentation was her clear indication that the women she met did not need salvation, they needed rest. Which seems so counter intuitive to our modern culture that requires all who can spare the time to help, and those that can help themselves to do so. In light of my choice to call the Hope mission van this evening I’ve become more reflexive of my choice. Did I in fact help this man or did I take away his agency? I’m curious how others feel about this.