Love and Collective Resistance: Lessons from the Picture the Homeless Oral History Project

Abstract

The Picture the Homeless Oral History Project reveals the meaning of being welcomed into collective resistance, and into homeless leadership, and the political impact of centring love and respect in the formation of resistance relationships, directly countering the imaginary of the disaffiliated homeless individual. Through their stories, the homeless leaders and staff of Picture the Homeless (PTH) teach us the importance of listening, and of love, in building collective resistance. The Picture the Homeless Oral History Project is a work in progress and integrates elements of community organizing, participatory action, and oral history research toward a participatory oral history research approach.