Photovoice and Homelessness in Subarctic and Urban Communities: Art-based Research, Housing and Health

The Culture of Couch Surfing Amongst Students

“…Henri Pallard (who used Photovoice as a method to explore homelessness in subarctic urban communities) argues that Photovoice is "a valuable method in research with homeless or insecurely housed people who usually remain marginalized, hidden and vulnerable... By enabling marginalized members of the community to make their realities visible to the community at large." (Pallard et al, 2015) Other example of Photovoice research that was influential to this work, is Caroline Wang, who used the method of Photovoice to approach a social issue and give a voice to communities that are disadvantaged a voice "The goal of Photovoice is to use people's photographic documentation of their everyday lives as an educational tool to record and to reflect their needs." (Wang & Burris, 1994) Photovoice gave the participants the chance to express themselves that they could not do through the interview or through conversation, they had the opportunity to showcase a certain aspect or view that an outsider would not be able to see, they could portray a certain mood that conveyed couch surfing for them through the simple task of taking photos.…”

“…Photovoice is a form of research that enables the voice of the marginalized to be heard and "has the potential to empower the participants, to be a mechanism for community change and to promote social justice." (Pallard, Kauppi, & Hein, 2015) The third approach undertaken, again participatory but now evolved beyond an expression of individuality to one of the couch surfers as a community. A group workshop was designed using the principles of "Serious Play" as devised by Lego.…”