Debates about homelessness took centre stage at “Films and Forums about Homelessness,” hosted by Movie Monday on Jan. 25.

“There are lots of great films out there, and [watching them] is a great way to address any topic,” said Bruce Saunders, who heads Movie Monday.

Five documentaries were played and debated on topics ranging from the homeless experience in Santa Monica, Calif. to an interactive tent city tool kit. The debates were facilitated by several people who had issues of homelessness close to their hearts.

The filmmakers of Something to Eat, a Place to Sleep, and Someone Who Gives a Damn had travelled from Vancouver to talk about their film — a number of brief clips and still images featuring homeless people and their housed advocates.

“I didn’t like [my family’s] attitudes,” said Les Merson, one of the filmmakers. “My kids ... were coming home and saying things like ‘The homeless are the boogeyman’ ... and I kind of understood that, because you’re afraid of things you don’t understand. And that’s why I decided to do this film, to explore an issue that I didn’t understand that needs to be dealt with.”