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No one is safe from experiencing homelessness. No one chooses to be homeless and it can happen to anyone. In most cases, it is the intersection of structural factors, personal histories and individual characteristics that leads to homelessness. Structural factors include: the growing gap between the rich and the poor, the decrease in affordable housing supply; the decrease in services, supports and social assistance; and, discrimination and racism. Personal histories and individual characteristics include: catastrophic events; loss of employment; family break up; onset of mental and/or other debilitating illnesses; substance use by oneself or family members; a history of physical, sexual or emotional abuse; and, involvement in the child welfare system. Every community in Canada has homeless people, even if you don't see them on the street. Most homeless people don't live on the street.

Working poor and single-parent families with children often live in crowded... housing. They are unable to afford a decent place to live while feeding and clothing their children. About one-in-seven users of shelters across Canada is a child. Women are vulnerable to becoming homeless as they are often victims of family violence and generally earn less than men. Newcomers to the rental housing market - especially young people, immigrants and refugees - are required to rent housing that they cannot afford and are one cheque away from eviction. Many seniors face eviction and homelessness due to fixed incomes, increased rents and taxes and a decline in physical and mental health. Many homeless youth, particularly gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender youth, are living in shelters or with friends as they are fleeing abusive situations. Visible minorities are often at risk of homelessness due to racial prejudice and employment disparities. Aboriginal people experience many of these contributing factors as well as: migration; third world housing conditions (on-reserve); loss of cultural identity; and, the residential school system.

Understanding the factors that lead to homelessness is not easy considering the heterogeneity of the population, and the fact that there are many pathways to homelessness. More and more, researchers are recognizing that any analysis of homelessness must take account of the distinct challenges that specific sub-populations face. More and more community organizations are beginning to recognize the value of good demographic data for rationalizing their local service programs for homeless people. By using such tools as a database to track demographics and characteristics of their clients, they can better focus on specific approaches and services that match the people they are serving. While collecting data cannot resolve all of their priorities or make all of their decisions it helps to provide clarity and a starting point for planning appropriate programs and services.

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


Acknowledgements
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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

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