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UNIVERSITY-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: AN ACTION-HUMANITIES APPROACH TO ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS MEGAN SANDHU A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN HUMANITIES YORK UNIVERSITY TORONTO, ONTARIO SEPTEMBER 2016 © Megan Sandhu, 2016 ABSTRACT This dissertation is a study of the function of the 21st century Canadian university and how it engages with communities and addresses social issues such as homelessness. The study is organized according to four subareas, Research, Education, Advocacy, and Representation and looks at university projects that address homelessness in the context of literature on these subareas and in relation to debates within discourse on institutional theory, ‘Ivory Tower’ power dynamics, community-university partnerships and homelessness in order to answer the main research question, ‘What role should the 21st century university play in addressing issues of homelessness?’ This study uses a mixed methods approach, drawing on scholarly literature, websites, and primary data as collected through a survey sent out to project participants across Canada with a view to presenting the current field of university involvement in homelessness research and activism. Some critical findings that come out of this research are that homelessness-related university projects need to avoid re-colonizing people with lived experiences of homelessness through interventionist, individual-deficit, and charity-model approaches, and should be aware of the danger of oppressive identity categories. The guiding thesis of this dissertation is that in order to address these issues, and to design positive and progressive homelessness-related projects, universities could address homelessness using an interdisciplinary array of resources, taking on an action-humanities approach, which facilitates empowerment of people with lived experiences of homelessness and engages students and faculty in a pedagogy of social responsibility. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to all the research participants who took the time to share their experiences and insights. This work would not exist without your contributions. Thank you to my supervisor Markus Reisenleitner for your patience and advice. At no point did I feel alone in this endeavor thanks to your support. And to my committee members: Janine Marchessault, thank you for your thought-provoking analysis and for encouraging me to find the real questions driving the work; and Steve Gaetz, thank you for being so generous with your time and mentorship-I learned so much from our discussions. A special thanks to Nancy Halifax for your guidance throughout the years and for sharing your experiences and expertise, thereby adding a layer of depth to my understanding of the topic for which I am very grateful. Finally, I want to thank my family and friends for their long-time support and encouragement. I want to express a special thank you to my partner Justin for encouraging me to begin this degree and to my parents for always letting me know that you believe in me. I dedicate this dissertation to my grandparents. I have for a long time benefitted from their strong conviction in the power of learning and the university to make a difference. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………….ii Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………...iii Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………..iv List of Tables……………………………………………………………………………….vi List of Figures………………………………………………………………………………vii Chapter One: Introduction Framing the Issue: A Call for Action-Humanities Introduction .............................................................................................................2 Purpose and Methodology .......................................................................................3 Terms and Theoretical Framework ..........................................................................5 Chapter Two: Conceptual Framework A Critical and Theoretical Analysis of Existing Approaches of the Academy to Social Issue Engagement and Homelessness Introduction .......................................................................................................... 20 Institutional Politics and Policy.............................................................................21 Power Dynamics in Higher Education ..................................................................46 Civic Engagement Practices in Higher Education .................................................63 Plans to Address Homelessness: Towards a Strategic Response ..........................85 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 101 Chapter Three: Project Profiles A Review of Homelessness-Related Projects Undertaken by Universities Introduction ........................................................................................................ 104 Research ............................................................................................................. 104 Education ........................................................................................................... 117 Advocacy ........................................................................................................... 135 Representation ....................................................................................................148 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 163 Chapter Four: Data Analysis and Integrated Research Measuring the Success of Homelessness-Related Projects Undertaken by Universities Introduction ........................................................................................................ 165 Methodology ...................................................................................................... 166 Research ............................................................................................................. 172 Education ........................................................................................................... 187 Advocacy ........................................................................................................... 202 Representation ....................................................................................................210 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 222 Chapter Five: Study Conclusion Action-Humanities in Action iv Introduction ...................................................................................................….224 Limitations and Recommendations for Future Research....................................225 An Action Plan for University Involvement ......................................................231 Appendices Appendix A: R1...................................................................................................234 Appendix B: R2 ...................................................................................................236 Appendix C: R3 and A3 (Tim Aubry) .................................................................240 Appendix D: R4 and A4 .......................................................................................245 Appendix E: R2 ....................................................................................................248 Appendix F: R6 (Stephen Gaetz) ........................................................................ 257 Appendix G: E2 ...................................................................................................259 Appendix H: E3 and R5 (Cathy Crowe) ............................................................ 264 Appendix I: A1 ....................................................................................................277 Appendix J: A2.....................................................................................................279 Appendix K: RP1………………………………………………………………..283 Appendix L: RP2 (Nancy Halifax)………………………………………………286 Works Cited ..................................................................................................................... 297 v LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Causes of Poverty ......................................................................................................90 Table 2: Addressing Homelessness Using University Resources: Problems and Solutions ...101 Table 3: Respondent ID Numbers.............................................................................................167 Table 4: Survey Word Counts ..................................................................................................170 Table 5: Specific Respondent Projects .....................................................................................172 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Canadian Perceptions of Homelessness ..................................................................87 Figure 2: In the Air Tonight at Ryerson University ................................................................149 Figure 3: Urgent: A Day in the Life ........................................................................................151 Figure 4: Hidden in Plain Sight ..............................................................................................153 vii “As a university, we’re not focused on bringing about huge reforms—that’s not our role.” William