Composition of Homeless Population
Description:
Even today, many people think of the homeless as a relatively homogeneous group largely composed of older, alcoholic and vaguely crazy men. This traditional image, which has long informed our collective imagination, as it has the literature on the subject,(1) does not correspond, however, to the present composition of the homeless population.With recent changes in this population, it is no longer possible to speak of one profile of homelessness rather, there is a diversity of profiles. The homeless now include women, children, teen-aged youths, the mentally ill, newly arrived immigrants, refugees, women victims of spousal violence, persons recently released from prison, and casual workers. Each of these homeless subgroups may be further broken down by age, sex, ethnic origin and occupational status. (excerpt from the document)
Type of Resource:
Government Document
Publication Date:
1999
Location:
Ottawa