“Canada Speaks” Exposing Persistent Myths About the 150,000 Canadians Living on the Streets

Canadians have spoken and they have something to say about homelessness in Canada.

A survey from Angus Reid Forum of more than 1,000 Canadians was conducted to determine public perceptions about individuals experiencing homelessness. The report, “Canada Speaks”, provides a unique look into how Canadians feel about the more than 150,000 homeless living on the streets in cities across the country. The report is a part of The Salvation Army’s ongoing Dignity Project – a national effort to educate and engage Canadians about the reality of poverty in the 21st century.

Findings from the report revealed that Canadians are divided on their opinions of individuals experiencing homelessness. Many are sympathetic; believing that homeless people deserve dignity and that housing is a fundamental right for all Canadians. A significant minority, however, take a less charitable view, believing that homeless people are always to blame for their situation and that a good work ethic is all you need to get off the streets. This is contrary to The Salvation Army’s experience in serving homeless populations for more than a century.

Our findings also revealed that a surprising number of Canadians have had first-hand experience being homeless – nearly one-quarter of Canadians have received assistance from a food bank or charitable group while seven percent reported that they have had to sleep on the street or in a shelter due to lack of housing at some point in their lives.
Additional key findings include:

• Approximately 40 percent of Canadians believe that most homeless people want to live on the street and in shelters.

• Almost 30 percent of Canadians believe that a good work ethic is all you need to escape homelessness.

• Nearly one-fifth of Canadians believe that individuals experiencing homelessness are always to blame for the situation they are in.

• 43 percent of Canadians never give money to a homeless person on the street.

• More than 60 percent believe that money given to a homeless person is likely to go to drugs or alcohol.

• 40 percent believe that most homeless people are mentally ill.

• More than one-third of Canadians are scared of homeless people.

Also:

• Nearly all of the respondents believe that individuals experiencing homelessness deserve a sense of dignity.

• 93 percent agree that no one in Canada should be homeless.

• 86 percent of Canadians believe that housing is a fundamental right for all Canadians.

• More than 80 percent believe that being homeless robs you of dignity.

• 75 percent of Canadians acknowledge that once you become homeless it is exceptionally difficult to get into housing.

The Salvation Army is highlighting the issue of homelessness this month as part of its annual May Red Shield Campaign. Money raised through the campaign will directly support those living in poverty today through social services like emergency shelter care, substance abuse counselling and employment training. Each year, The Salvation Army serves more than 1.6 million people in more than 400 communities across the country. With your help, we can work towards a Canada without homelessness.

Publication Date: 
2011
Location: 
Toronto, ON, Canada