“Unhoused: Communities in Crisis,” the first feature in a new social-issues series from Sisters Strain Film Corp., will premiere Saturday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre in Chatham. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for red-carpet photos. Admission is free, thanks to community sponsors, with guests encouraged to bring a non-perishable food donation […]
“Unhoused: Communities in Crisis,” the first feature in a new social-issues series from Sisters Strain Film Corp., will premiere Saturday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre in Chatham. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for red-carpet photos. Admission is free, thanks to community sponsors, with guests encouraged to bring a non-perishable food donation for Outreach for Hunger.
Produced by sisters Karissa and Kat Strain, the film takes a close, compassionate look at how smaller municipalities are grappling with the realities of homelessness—an issue long associated with larger cities but increasingly visible in rural Ontario.
“Houselessness has been no surprise to big cities, but to rural communities this crisis is fairly new,” the filmmakers said in a statement. The film is "an intimate and in depth look at the complexities smaller municipalities in rural Canada are facing as they navigate balancing both sides of the crisis, those who find themselves unhoused, and the communities, businesses, and individuals close to encampments who are affected by the impact."
The documentary features interviews with local residents, business owners, and those working on the front lines of housing and social services. Rather than focusing solely on the visible struggles of encampments, the Strains highlight the ongoing efforts within communities to find constructive solutions.
Their approach is rooted in optimism and education — an effort, they say, to reflect “the more beautiful world we wish to see.”
“Unhoused: Communities in Crisis” is the first in a planned series of documentaries that will shine a light on social issues affecting rural communities, aiming to raise awareness and spark meaningful conversations about justice, compassion, and collective responsibility.
The screening marks an important milestone for Sisters Strain Film Corp., whose founders hope to continue using film as a platform for education and social change.
