Reports

Geography Qualitative Methods Readers

2009

Empowerment, networks, risk, and difference: Exploring the relationship between Our Place and Victoria’s inner-city community.

Gutberlet, J., with Stoner, S., Beatty, B., Carlson, E.,  Nunn, N. (2009). Victoria: CBRL.

Abstract: In the following research project qualitative methods were applied to study ‘Our Place’, a not for profit organization in Victoria, BC, which has the mandate to provide services inducing transitional housing, meals, support, hygiene facilities, computer training, and more. According to their webpage, the organization furthermore has a vision and mission to improve the health of the community by providing leadership, awareness, inspiration, hope, comfort, and Christian love (Our Place Homepage, 2009). The study encompassed an exploration of the relationship between the inner city marginalized and Our Place. It focused on finding out whether this organization contributes to addressing negative stigma often attributed to this population. The study had the following over-riding question:

• What role does Our Place play in providing empowerment, networking, risk aversion and equity to both its family members and society as a whole?

The research discusses empowerment, and how community and reciprocity contribute to building empowerment among this population. The survey results strongly indicate that those feeling empowered by Our Place are likely to think well of the Our Place society and they have a positive opinion of the service offered. Conversely, Our Place members not deriving comfort and community from Our Place are likely to suggest that Our Place limits their empowerment. The overall perception however, was that Our Place serves as a hub for community connections and support, assisting with loss and mitigating risks. Furthermore the study underlines that more important than the formal services and programs Our Place provides are the informal relationships and interactions.

Studies like this one can contribute to drawing attention to the importance of the indirect contributions social organizations can make by providing a safe meeting place and by promoting the services to the marginalized population as outlined in the case of Our Place.

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