Homelessness, Victimization and Crime: Knowledge and Actionable Recommendations
Description:
This report examines how victimization contributes to homelessness and how subsequent victimization may result from living on the streets. It reviews the types of crimes committed by homeless people, and why homeless people are incarcerated. It also identifies factors through which incarceration raises the risk of homelessness for vulnerable populations.
The report provides a review of the literature as well as the results of semi-structured interviews held with community safety coordinators, city housing staff, academics, service providers, and community action groups from eight Canadian cities. Actionable recommendations are made for the following areas: housing and supports; homelessness and victimization; and homelessness and crime.
The recommendations are consistent with the Housing First approach, which stresses that providing housing, as well as social and income supports to end homelessness, are the best approaches for addressing crime and victimization associated with homelessness. Large-scale initiatives of this nature require the cooperation and resources of all orders of government.
Type of Resource:
Report
Publication Date:
2008
Location:
Ottawa