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Population: Rural Populations
One of the challenges in understanding homelessness and responding to it is that it is often framed as an urban, inner-city issue. There are several important reasons for this, including the fact that it is often in large cities where big investments have been made in homelessness infrastructure, including the building of shelters, drop-ins, etc. However, the factors that lead to homelessness exist not only in big cities, but can also be found in rural and small town areas. This includes inadequate housing, poverty, discrimination, abuse and substance misuse. At the same time, suburban and rural areas typically lack the resources – and in some cases the will – to invest in infrastructure and services that may prevent or reduce the worst outcomes of homelessness.

As a result, when people in rural areas face homelessness, they may choose to temporarily stay with friends or relatives, or in some cases endure unbearable situations (including abuse or living in pov...erty), and thus become part of the “hidden homelessness” problem. A lack of services and supports means that many are otherwise forced to leave their community to access services. Severing ties with the local community and moving to the city may mean escaping one set of problems, but can lead to many others. Rural homelessness presents important challenges for those who seek to end homelessness. Currently, there is a need for more research in this area.

AUTHOR: Power, Asetha (2008) Homeless Hub. [Show More][Show Less]


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A Canadian Homelessness Research Network (CHRN) initiative. The CHRN has received financial support from the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada