alinadia's blog

Individuals who experience homelessness are diverse, not only in characteristics such as age, gender, sexual orientation and/or race, but also in terms of their living arrangements. Homelessness is commonly perceived as an individual sleeping on the street or in emergency shelters - locations that are highly visible. However, homelessness is experienced in multiple ways, and is often a fluid experience ranging from places of accommodations, to duration, as well as frequency. 

Access to health care is a human right. In Canada, we enjoy a system of universal health insurance and yet, many Canadians are left without services other Canadians can access with relative ease. For individuals experiencing homelessness, the ability to maintain one's health can be compromised by the impact of deteriorating health and obstacles, which often prevent them from getting the critical help they need.

It’s hard to believe that in a country as prosperous as Canada, homelessness is such a widely pervasive issue. On any given night, 35,000 Canadians are homeless and at least 235,000 people experience homelessness in a year. For some, this reality is often difficult to rationalize.

Over the past 30 years, the Canadian labour market has experienced the proliferation of low-wage, precarious, temporary jobs that, when coupled with the rising cost of living across the nation, make it difficult for many Canadians to have the security they need to live a fiscally stable and prosperous life. For those who do experience homelessness, getting back into the formal labour market can prove challenging. This is where the role of social enterprises comes in.

November 13th to the 19th is National Addiction Awareness Week, an occasion that highlights issues and solutions to help address alcohol and other drug-related harm. It also provides an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about substance use prevention, strategies for treatment and recovery and to bring about solutions for change.

“... Poverty does not just mean financial insecurity, but rather it refers to the “chronic deprivation of the resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living.” - Canada without Poverty

October 10th was World Homeless Day, an annual occasion on an international stage that brings attention to the needs of people experiencing homelessness and provides opportunities for communities across the world to get involved in responding to homelessness. The initiative encourages both community members and politicians alike to engage in and take critical steps towards combatting homelessness.

October 2nd marks the International Day of Non-Violence, an initiative by the United Nations that seeks to disseminate the message of non-violence through education and public awareness, in the hopes of securing a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence. In honour of this initiative, it is critical to identify the multitude of ways violence manifests in our lives.

The first week of October marks Mental Illness Awareness Week, an initiative coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health to promote the reality of mental illness to all Canadians. The stigma against mental illness is strong, thus it is important to provide a snapshot to demonstrate what mental illness truly looks like, who it affects and how it can be addressed.