Family homelessness is largely underpinned by structural factors, including inadequate income, lack of affordable housing and family violence. Following the withdrawal of government housing programs and decreased supports, more families are turning to emergency shelters. Compared to individuals accessing the shelter system, families, on average, stay twice as long. Understanding the factors that lead to homelessness is not easy considering how diverse the population is, 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.
In addition, more community organizations and service providers also now recognize the need to develop programs, services and supports that take account of the specific challenges that subpopulations face. People become homeless for many different reasons. It then follows that the services and supports that prevent homelessness as well as help people move forward with their lives must also take account of such differences.
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About Homelessness Housing as a human right. About Homelessness Long term solutions. Staying in Emergency Homelessness Shelters 14, There are approximately 15, permanent shelter beds, and in an average of 14, were occupied Segaert, Between and , the number of people using shelters decreased. The duration of stays beyond 30 days have also increased , from 9. Staying in Violence Against Women shelters 7, In , there were 9, beds for women and children fleeing violence and abuse.
This includes not only emergency shelters, but also transitional and second stage housing. Unsheltered 2, If one draws from the data comparing homelessness in Canadian cities, one can estimate the unsheltered population. On average, for every one hundred people in the shelter system, there are 20 people who are unsheltered. Temporary institutional accommodation 4, Of those communities that count some portion of the provisionally accommodated, there are 31 people in this category for every staying in emergency shelters.
Often referred to as couch surfing , this includes people who are temporarily staying with friends, relatives or others because they have nowhere else to live and no immediate prospect of permanent housing. There is no reliable data on hidden homelessness in Canada at the national level and very little at the community level.
One Canadian study in Vancouver Eberle, et al. While the methodology of this study is sound, it was conducted in only one city, and the differences between cities, their infrastructure to support homelessness and their homeless population are quite profound. Applied nationally with a more conservative ratio, as many as 50, people could be estimated to experience hidden homelessness on any given night in Canada. Indigenous homelessness is particularly acute in many Canadian cities.
According to a study, on any given night, 6. About one in 15 urban Indigenous people are homeless, compared with the average of one in non-Indigenous people across Canada.
In other words, urban Indigenous people are about eight times more likely to be homeless than the non-Indigenous population. The conditions and history leading to homelessness among Indigenous populations are significantly different from other populations in Canada. The Indian Act and the impact of residential schools which took Indigenous children away from their families, communities and culture, and exposed many to abuse are often cited as factors of cultural disintegration.
This, combined with extreme poverty, lack of opportunities and inadequate housing on many reserves, drives migration out of communities to cities. This contributes to the creation of unsafe and overcrowded living spaces, which, in turn, contributes to homelessness. Youth between the ages of 13 and 24 represent In terms of gender, Many were homeless at a young age; According to a study on street youth, this segment of the homeless population in Canada is particularly vulnerable.
The prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and blood-borne Infections in street youth is 10 to 12 times higher than youth in the general population. They are 11 times more likely to die from suicide or substance overdose. Twelve to 32 per cent of them report engaging in sex work, and Women represent Their experiences often differ from men in several ways.
Studies show that homeless women are at higher risk of violence and assault, sexual exploitation and abuse. Many women are among the hidden homeless because they prefer to avoid the shelter system and the streets, even if it means staying in dangerous situations, including domestic violence. Domestic violence is a major cause of homelessness for women, as well as poverty resulting from gender inequality. Several studies show that female homelessness is directly impacted by the fact that women experience more precariousness in the job market, have lower wages, and are more likely to be head of a single-parented family, all resulting in a deeper poverty than their male counterparts.
This impacts the kind of housing they can afford, their food security, and their health conditions. Racialized, immigrant and Indigenous women may experience additional systemic barriers, thereby compounding their experiences with homelessness.
Homeless people are more likely to experience mental health issues than the general population. In fact, the two conditions may reinforce each other; loneliness, social exclusion, and psychological distress often go along with homelessness, and poor mental health contributes to poverty, disaffiliation and personal vulnerability, which in turn can lead to homelessness.
Research shows than an average of 30 to 35 per cent of homeless persons and up to 75 per cent of women have mental illnesses, and 20 to 25 per cent experience both severe mental illness and addiction. Single adult men compose the largest and most visible population group experiencing homelessness. Single males between the ages of 25 and 55 accounted for Emergency shelters may target specific sub-populations, including men, women, families, youth or Indigenous persons.
They often provide shared sleeping facilities although some offer private rooms. Some expect clients to leave in the morning. Different shelters may have varying policies regarding alcohol or drug consumption.
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