The purpose of this report is to present the perspectives of people who have experienced being without a home so that decision makers can respond to homelessness more effectively. Their voices need to be heard in the policy and program discussions of organizations such as the Greater Vancouver Shelter Strategy, the Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness, the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee and BC Housing. Outreach workers conducted interviews with 34 people in communities across Metropolitan Vancouver, including 13 women and 9 people who identified themselves as Aboriginal. Each of these people had experienced homelessness in the past 2 years. (excerpt from the document)