(This article is part five of a five-part series on the differing perspectives of the homeless versus mainstream culture and how that stigma associated with being homeless directly affects their relationships between authorities, public space and themselves.)

Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick and Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran said adopting or supporting the adaptation of a Homeless Charter of Rights is a possibility for both the city and B.C.

The document, which was created by a Calgary-based homeless organization, outlines the human rights of people who experience homelessness, such as their right to access space, facilities, social services, health care and to be treated with respect and dignity.

sa国际传媒淔rom what I know about the Homeless Charter of Rights, itsa国际传媒檚 a social movement designed to make everyone agree that people experiencing homelessness have the right to access health care, housing and justice. I think we can all accept thatsa国际传媒擨 think thatsa国际传媒檚 what wesa国际传媒檙e all trying to do,sa国际传媒� Basran said.

Letnick said he supports the rights of everyone, including people who experience homelessness.

He did not specify whether or not he supported the charter, but he said: sa国际传媒淚 will discuss its contents with my colleagues in Victoria when we return this fall.sa国际传媒�

Sherry Landry, Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society outreach co-ordinator, said she would like to see something similar adopted or recognized provincewide.

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While the City of Calgary was addressing its own homelessness issue, an institution, similar to Central Okanagan Journey Home Society (COJHS), ratified the document.

The charter is a document brought to life by the Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF), the CHF Client Action Committee (CAC) and the Alberta Human Rights Commission.

The City of Calgary has not adopted the charter, CAC member Nigel Kirk said, but the committee is currently working to make that happen.

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The document has, however, influenced many of the policies and initiatives taken by the CHF, which hassa国际传媒攄irectly or indirectlysa国际传媒攕hown an increase in quality of life for people who experience homelessness in Calgary, Kirk stated.

For example, the James Short park, on top of a parkade in downtown Calgary, is known as a tolerant zone for people who experience homelessness.

This has been a milestone for people who experience homelessness, Kirk said.

sa国际传媒淭here have been more movements to add some more public spacessa国际传媒攁llowing homeless people to hangout there during the day without being harassed by police officers,sa国际传媒� Kirk said, noting that Calgary is not perfect and that they still have quite a ways to go.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 happening less and less frequently.sa国际传媒�

Reciprocation started with the media and spiralled from there.

Once the public saw how people who experience homelessness were being treated, initiatives such as the homeless charter took off, with shelters and storefronts posting outside their buildings, Kirk said.

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sa国际传媒淎 lot of it has just been public awareness,sa国际传媒� Kirk said. sa国际传媒淎 lot of police officers are under a lot more scrutiny so they had to step back a little bit when it comes to harassing members of the homeless community.sa国际传媒�

The downfall, Kirk said, is theresa国际传媒檚 no way to enforce the chartersa国际传媒攊t is a document not enforced by legislation but rather by the goodwill and empathy of others.

John Graham, UBC Okanagansa国际传媒檚 school of social work director and COJHS member, said there must be social cohesion throughout Kelowna to solve this widespread and varying issues associated with homelessness.

sa国际传媒淲e need to ensure that public dialogue remains open and full so that the perspectives of all parties (are heard),sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e got some real potential to do some real good here.sa国际传媒�

Basran expressed similar virtues in finding a community solution.

sa国际传媒淲e know that in order to truly address homelessness, the support of the community as a whole will be needed to be fully effective,sa国际传媒� Basran said.

sa国际传媒淓veryone can play a role. As our lived and living experience people have told us, stigma and discrimination are some of the greatest barriers they face in our community every day.

sa国际传媒淪imply saying hello can make the greatest difference for those struggling to find their place in our community.sa国际传媒�