Understanding the Homeless Situation in Canada

How you can help

Define homeless 

Homelessness is defined as a situation wherein an individual or family lacks access to stable, permanent and safe housing [Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH), 2017]. It also includes individuals or families in precarious situations where their current housing is at risk or does not meet safety or public health standards (COH, 2017). The general image of a homeless person is a street person, but homelessness also includes individuals in emergency shelters or those who are temporarily housed. 

 

Let’s explore the experience of the chronically homeless, and learn about what factors are involved in the creation and maintenance of the problem. For brevity’s sake, we will focus on this population, rather than those at risk of losing housing.  

Factors in becoming Homeless

Losing a home

One of the biggest factors in a person losing their housing is due to systemic issues and society’s failure to provide adequate housing options, funding and support. Although there is financial support available to individuals and families at risk of losing their housing, it can be challenging for some people to follow the paperwork and access important information. As well, exiting homelessness can also be challenging due to lack of affordable options. The National Housing Strategy has created a “Reaching Home” program by increasing affordable rental units, funding transitional programs and increasing client services such as emergency shelters and employment assistance. This takes time to come into practice though, another systemic barrier for people.

Supportive housing

Another issue is the lack of supportive housing. So, what’s the difference between supportive housing and affordable housing? Supportive housing is typically a form of social housing where individuals have their own apartments, but is located within an organization that provides ongoing mental and physical support. Some people who experience chronic homeless, mental health problems or addiction are unable to sustain stable housing and need extra help maintaining a clean space, cooking their meals, taking medication and accessing healthcare. This new model of care reduces hospital stays and gives individuals permanent housing outside of the shelter system, which can vastly improve their quality of life.

Obstacles 

So, people have multiple pathways to becoming homeless and when they are homeless, experience challenges that inhibit their ability to change their situation. For example, living in and out of shelters makes it difficult to organize paperwork and any documents people need to access social housing registries. Clients often require a caseworker or housing worker to access these registries and get support for housing. Unfortunately, these workers often have waitlists, which can increase the length of time people spend on the streets or in emergency shelters.

mental health

Lastly, mental health and addiction issues play a role in homelessness. The connections between mental health and addiction and homelessness are complex. There is clear evidence that homeless people are more susceptible to mental and physical health challenges (Canadian Population Health Initiative of the Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2007). Living on the streets or in shelters is a stressful environmental situation and the struggles people face on a daily basis can trigger and exacerbate people’s current illnesses and addictions. Street persons have limited access to nutritious and filling meals, healthcare, positive social interactions and need to stay vigilant to their surroundings. 

 

Conclusion

 So, people have multiple pathways to becoming homeless and when they are homeless, the challenges they experience inhibit their ability to change their situation. For example, living in and out of shelters makes it difficult to organize paperwork and any documents people need to access social housing registries. Clients often require a caseworker or housing worker to access these registries and get support for housing. Unfortunately, these workers often have waitlists, which can increase the length of time people spend on the streets or in emergency shelters.

 

How Individuals can help

 Supporting organizations such as homeless shelters and food banks through donations or the gift of time is one option to help. As well, when you vote, ask your candidates about their views on mental health and addiction issues, and how they plan to support reducing homelessness. In the Ottawa region, emergency shelters and community health centers are the main resources used by people experiencing homelessness. Let’s focus on one.

The Shepherd’s of Good Hope has recently created new supportive housing programs and is the leader in providing housing and support to people experiencing homelessness. The shelter operates many different facilities in the Ottawa area and has clothing drives, operates a small food bank and provides warm meals to people three times a day. The shelter also has case managers and housing workers to help individuals obtain housing and manage their mental health and addiction issues.

 

 

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