The homeless are invited back 

In early November, we invite users back to the church square to spend the night. By analyzing the camp law with Stenbroens Jurister, we find models for how users can safely and within the framework of the camp law stay in the square, we set up awnings, rules of order (made in collaboration with the users), erected a designed flag, marked out plots, purchased tents, established a shed for sleeping gear and we were present daily to follow the process. 

This quickly got both neighbors and politicians, somewhat indignant about the return of the homeless, to get involved in the problems surrounding the church square - and the press also took notice of the project. 

The project therefore has a final third reconciliation meeting where all parties finally participate, now also neighbors and politicians, and everyone gives vent to their frustrations and difficult experiences with the square, and then two important meetings: first with City Architect Camilla van Deurs, and then Social Mayor Karina Vestergård Madsen, who is personally handed the project's experiences and collected knowledge by ten homeless, a neighbor, the curator, the priest and the artists on December 1 at Copenhagen City Hall. 

The cynicism of necessity 

At the activism meeting, we identify the overwhelming prejudice and stigmatization of the Romanian Roma migrant workers as a serious barrier for anyone to step in and help them. That's why the communication department at Vesterbro Parish joins the effort with three portrait films of three of the regular users: Angelica, Ion and Cosmin, to show that it is people with personalities and needs that we exclude. Because if we accept that these people live in poverty and as cast-offs in Danish and EU legislation, we create a new norm in Denmark. A norm where our humanity is slowly destroyed by an involuntary necessary cynicism that enables us to look away. 

The project was followed closely by TV2 Kosmopol and Berlingske. The project also resulted in a post by pastor Lise Christina Rasmussen (Open letter: Where are you?) in Politiken on Nov. 20, 2023 addressed to the Minister of Social Affairs, and the spokespersons and the artists respond (Migrant workers with work gloves on) to a debate post from Jens-Kristian Lütken, Mayor of Employment and Integration (Poor Eastern European migrants became props in artistic happening). The project was also followed by documentary filmmaker Jella Bethmann (produced in collaboration between TV2 and DFI - The Danish Film Institute).