Someone To Talk To is an empassioned account of life on the mean streets of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Homeless and near-homeless persons recount in agonizing detail their experiences of living on the edge in a large Canadian city. They chronicle the grim spirals of poverty, marginalization and despair that propelled them out of their homes, onto the streets and into the ambit of shelters like Triage Emergency Services. Allen analyzes how state policies contribute more to the continuation of homelessness than its eradication.

“Some people like to glamorize it but there’s nothing glamorous about it. People put a knife into you for a couple of bucks. I spent quite a bit of time on the streets and you’re looking more out for your safety than you are looking for a place to sleep for the night.”