Mission Old Brewery |
PAQ |
Maison du Père |
Where Do You Sleep? is a cause-related photographic art project supported and sponsored by the City of Montréal. Ten photographers were selected to contribute varying works exploring their visions of homelessness.
During the summer of 2015, Tema Stauffer photographed interiors of homeless shelters throughout the city of Montréal. The question posed by the project led her to examine the accommodations provided by local organizations dedicated to protecting and supporting the homeless and other individuals in crisis or transition. Variations in funding and capacity influence the kinds of environments these organizations are capable of providing as an alternative to the streets. These range from private bedrooms to large, shared rooms with many beds, as well as the pews of a downtown church where the homeless rest during weekdays.
The photographs selected for the first exhibition on display in the Hall of Honor at Montréal's City Hall from October 31st to November 12th, 2015 portray rooms at Mission Old Brewery, Projets Autochtones du Québec (PAQ), and Maison de Pére. Thank you to the organizations and their directors and staff who generously opened their doors to this project, also including Nazareth House, Anne's House, Chez Doris, Auberge Madeleine, Le Chainon, Native Women's Shelter, Welcome Hall Mission, and the Open Door Church.