Derek Book spent the first 20 years of his life in substantial crisis, but went on to become university-educated, and has been working in the field of social work for over 12 years [image: istockphoto]
Derek Book is a consultant living in Victoria, British Columbia. While Derek spent the first twenty years of his life “in substantial crisis,” he went on to become university-educated, and has been working in the field of social work for over twelve years as a case planner, needle exchange worker, homeless count coordinator, and shelter coordinator.
He is the author of the blog Formerly Homeless, and is a tireless advocate for those experiencing homelessness.
We survive by ending the silence. This means that we survive by admitting that we were abused, and making peace with our abusers. We survive by drawing attention to the hell we go through and have gone through, rather than perishing in noble silence. — Derek Book on his blog, Formerly Homeless
Recovery credited to peer support, helpful frontline workers
Derek grew up in various communities in Ontario, Alberta, and BC, but settled down in Victoria in 1991, where he got some help from the Victoria Cool Aid Society. He credits his recovery to some awesome peer support, and a couple of extra helpful frontline workers who saw the value through his crisis-based lifestyle.
He wrote a compelling account of his journey through childhood, into street homelessness, and then on to recovery, in the book Homelessness is Only One Piece of My Puzzle: Implications for Policy and Practice. You can download and read a PDF copy of the book here.
Hitting the streets at 15 was the least of my worries. I had lost all hope, all connection to and all faith in the society around me. I remember sleeping in a parkade on a piece of cardboard when I was 16, waking up periodically when a businessperson would uncomfortably walk around me. — Derek Book in Stories: All The Way Home
“Housing the homeless is a good investment”
Homelessness is Only One Piece of My Puzzle: Implications for Policy and Practice – See more at: https://t.co/GXgBTdVFbQ
— Derek Book (@BookDerek) November 6, 2015
Derek Book would like the world to know that there is more than just hope in the lives of people experiencing homelessness — there are real solutions for real problems — and he is determined to advance those voices in the battle to end homelessness. His op-ed article in the Times Colonist on October 17, 2015 argues for a housing first model in responding to homelessness.
Housing First, the model proposed by Dr. Sam Tsemberis, founder of Pathways to Housing in New York City, is well documented as a viable and new model of ending homelessness. We have not yet tried Housing First in this region — the current homeless have to be screened and scrutinized before receiving supportive housing — but we have the mechanisms in place, and the research to back it up. … Housing First is a win-win, rock-solid solution that is long overdue. — Derek Book, in the Times Colonist
We speak with Derek Book.
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Left-click to listen; right-click to save.
audio | interview with @bookderek @VIMentalHealth @CHLYRadio #nanaimo #vancouverisland #yyj https://t.co/iz9A7j1Qno pic.twitter.com/i0qOkXkVp4
— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) November 12, 2015
