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Dr. Erin Dej
Associate Professor, Department of Criminology, Wilfrid Laurier University
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Dr. Dej is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminology at Wilfrid Laurier University. She brings fifteen years of research and advocacy experience on homelessness, having been led by the lived experts she works with. Her focus is on the social exclusion of unhoused people, including the criminalization of homelessness, and she promotes homelessness prevention and meaningful social inclusion. In 2020 she published her book A Complex Exile: Homelessness and Social Exclusion in Canada, through UBC Press. |
Young women often feel alone, isolated as they move from homeless to housed: WLU research
CBC News - Feb 27, 2022 Some residents leave Soper Park encampment after being ordered to move CTV News - September 26, 2023 'We're at a crossroads,' say housing experts meeting in Cambridge for National Housing Day Cambridge Today - November 22, 2023 No Fixed Address: A Talk About Homelessness and Encampements (1:11:33) The Mike Farwell Show - February 21, 2024 
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- A Complex Exile: Homelessness, Exclusion, and a Call for Inclusion - Homeless Hub
- A National Protocol for Homeless Encampments in Canada - Make The Shift
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More from this conversation: |
- Criminalization of Homelessness The problematic use of the criminal justice system to hide homelessness, leading to the unnecessary incarceration of homeless individuals for minor offenses.
- Importance of Community The critical role of community in the lives of homeless individuals, both within encampments and in broader society, and the need to integrate them into our collective notion of community.
- Overcoming Stigma and Exclusion The urgent need to challenge the stigma around homelessness and create inclusive spaces that allow homeless individuals to engage in societal activities based on their interests and identities.
With the ever escalating housing crisis, a growing number of people are confronting the harsh realities of homelessness on a daily basis. Despite concerted efforts, community services and shelter spaces are struggling to keep pace with the surging demand, leaving many without access to even these temporary solutions due to their limited capacity.
Faced with this stark reality, individuals are compelled to forge their own paths to survival, resulting in an increasing presence of makeshift shelters and tents, as residents seek safety and refuge from the often unforgiving elements.
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As we grapple with the pressing need for both short-term and long-term solutions to address the root causes of homelessness, the current plight of those living outdoors remains in a state of uncertainty. What do we know about the complexities concerning the root causes and approaches to homelessness and encampments? What responses and measures can we enact to deal with the basic needs, care, and well-being of these people? What other approaches to this issue, and what steps are other municipalities taking to assist those dealing with homelessness and living in encampments?
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Embracing Community For All
Erin Dej, a critical criminologist, addresses the issue of homelessness from a community perspective. She emphasizes the societal tendency to exclude the homeless from the notion of community, primarily due to discomfort in witnessing their suffering and trauma. This exclusion, she argues, has led to an increased reliance on the criminal justice system as a means of hiding the problem rather than addressing it.
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Dej highlights a worrying trend: the incarceration of homeless individuals for minor infractions, often as a result of survival behaviors that are criminalized due to a lack of support and infrastructure (like public urination tickets due to no access to washrooms). This criminalization not only fails to solve the root problem but also adds to the challenges faced by the homeless, such as losing the little stability they might have in terms of housing or employment.
A significant part of her talk revolves around the importance of community within encampments and the sense of belonging they provide, which is often missing when individuals transition to housing. This transition can lead to loneliness and isolation, as the community formed in encampments is lost. Dej stresses that homeless individuals, like everyone else, have interests, hobbies, and desires to be part of communities beyond their housing status. However, stigma and societal barriers often prevent them from participating in these communities.
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