All Our Sisters

I hope it makes people uncomfortable enough that they are moved to act. -- Kimberley Chester, Formerly Homeless Woman I cheered when I heard that the highly-regarded Susan Scott was writing a book about Canada's homeless women. And here it is: packed with stories of their spunk and unimaginable misery. Their lives are inextricably bound to bureaucrats just doing their jobs and a Canadian public made up mostly of good-willed people who believe that everything is fine in this fair land. It isn't. It definitely isn't. -- June Callwood A stunning book-as passionate and honest in telling the stories of homeless women as it is incisive in analyzing the failures of homeless policies. -- Thomas Homer-Dixon The plight of the homeless, particularly women and children, is a national disgrace. In the midst of great wealth, many live without the security or the choice that comes with a home... All Our Sisters is required reading for those who want to change the Canadian social system and for those who refuse to live any longer in the midst of this national disgrace." - Wayne Stewart, President & CEO, Calgary Homeless Foundation -- Wayne Stewart, President & CEO, Calgary Homelss Foundation Scott has expertly woven together the violent origins of women's homelessness and the resulting hurt to young girls and women. At the heart and soul of this book is an astonishing array of women's voices that bravely conveys a snapshot of their struggle. All Our Sisters is a cry for solutions. -- Cathy Crowe, Street Nurse

"A stunning book—as passionate and honest in telling the stories of homeless women as it is incisive in analyzing the failures of homeless policies." - Thomas Homer-Dixon

Though they account for only a small portion of the formal homeless statistics, there are many more women living on insufficient funds, with violent partners, in unacceptable dwellings, or in other fragile circumstances that are too often overlooked. They are our mothers, our daughters, our aunts, our nieces, our wives—they are all our sisters—and they remain largely invisible compared to homeless men.

Susan Scott interviewed more than 60 women facing homelessness across Canada. Part of her agreement with these women was to tell their stories in the way they would want to have them told. With uncompromising honesty and a deep sense of empathy, Scott recounts their stories while highlighting the many underlying problems they face. These include personal histories of abuse, addiction, and violence, as well as systemic conditions of gentrification, a paucity of affordable housing, and a lack of social services sensitive to women's needs.

All Our Sisters is essential reading for anyone who wants to know more about the conditions facing homeless women in Canada.