Hidden Homelessness: An Indicator-Based Approach for Examining the Geographies of Recent Immigrants At-Risk of Homelessness in Greater Vancouver
Description:
While homelessness is a growing problem in Greater Vancouver, immigrants are not yet a visible part of the region's homeless. The over-representation of immigrants among the population considered at-risk suggests that immigrant homelessness remains hidden. Using census-based housing indicators, we examine the geographies of immigrants at-risk of homelessness to discern where 'hidden' homelessness might be occurring. Findings indicate that: spatial concentrations of recent immigrants at-risk of homelessness are found in inner suburban locations; in these at-risk areas the vast majority of immigrants are recent arrivals; and recent immigrants are disproportionately excluded from at-risk estimates because they are significantly over-represented among households that have shelter costs that exceed their incomes (which are excluded by the indicator). These conclusions are reached through analysis at the regional and sub-regional scale, which revealed broad trends and patterns, and a second small-area (neighbourhood) scale analysis, a means of better documenting the highly-localized geography of low-cost rental housing, revealing fine-grained patterns of social difference, that in Greater Vancouver identify areas where 'hidden' homelessness may be present. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.; (abstract from http://www.sciencedirect.com)
Type of Resource:
Journal
Publication Date:
2006
Volume:
23
Issue:
3
Pages:
205
Location:
Vancouver