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Homelessness: Service Delivery & Utilization
In Canada, there are a wide range of services that support people who are homeless. Some of these services are used by homeless people, but are not specifically targeted to them, including most health services, government supports, various forms of treatment and even things such as the use of libraries. In other cases, services are targeted at the special needs of people who are homeless. These services are provided by government, charitable organizations and the non-profit sector.

Services are directed at prevention (keeping people from becoming homeless) emergency supports (including drop ins, shelters and soup kitchens, for instance), and efforts to move people out of homelessness. In Canada, unlike many other developed countries, the primary response has been to focus on providing emergency supports, rather than prevention or moving people off the streets.

A key issue in service utilization is that homeless people may experience barriers in acc...essing public services that many Canadians take for granted. For instance, lack of identification (such as health cards) and/or a lack of funds (for service fees) may make services inaccessible. In addition, there is evidence that many people who are visibly homeless, or who have substance use problems or mental health challenges may be denied service or dissuaded from accessing services.

AUTHOR: Gaetz, Stephen, (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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