Does society divide people who are homeless into good and bad? Most people would say no, but sub-consciously many of us see a dividing line. The “good” homeless are people who lost their home and are new to living without a roof – maybe they just lost their job and can’t afford rent. Then there’s the “bad” – the people who are living rough because of mental illness, addiction struggles or both. 

Karen Orlandi is studying for a doctorate in social justice, specifically the cost of homelessness. She is also minister at Silver Spire Church in downtown St. Catharines and does a lot of outreach in the city’s core.