Module 1

1. Ecological systems theory and homelessness

a. Urie Bronfenbrenner developed the ecological systems theory
i. A persons environments can impact their health and well-being
ii. Various risk factors emerge from multiple environments and
create and or intensify an individual's vulnerability to
homelessness
2. The individual and structural risk factors of homelessness
a. Structural risk factors > individual risk factors> factors
interact>homelessness
b. If programs are in place to address discrimination in employment, this
may reduce poverty, protect someone from further experiences of
stigmatisation and trauma and also prevent the impact of these
negative experiences, thus addressing several risk factors and
interrupting a pathway to homelessness
3. Indigenous realities, perspectives, and community-based, self-determined
intervention strategies in relation to housing insecurity and homelessness
a. Racism and colonialism
4. Voices of the homeless during Covid19 Pandemic
a. Homeless people come out of their situations more resilient than others
have ever been. They are survivors and have learnt how to deal with
stressful situations
b. The additional risks of covid-19 have made the homeless even more
susceptible and vulnerable
i. Some do not have access to internet, and were not kept in the
loop of everything that was going on so they have to figure out
what the new rules were in a time when communication between
people was extremely low
c. They don't have as much access to sanitary products
i. Housing issues/ it's hard to be housed because people are
scared
ii. They feel safer when there's less people around them/ however
homeless shelters do not give enough space for that to be
possible
 iii. Homeless people need their own space as it is hard to not focus
on their anxiety, depression when in environments where they
easily contract covid-19
d. The human connection being taken away/ how to isolate but also stay
connected.
i. People who are in their houses have time to communicate but
others who have insecure housing do not have the liberty to do
that
5. Dr. Cindy Blackstock (Indigenous pathways to homelessness)
a. Collaborated with other Indigenous peoples in order to ensure that
Indigenous children are not forgotten
b. Racism
i. Indian act
ii. Governments makes
c. The social determinants of health
i. Land and self-determination as factors related to homelessness
1. If we don't take care of this home (earth) we will all be
unsafe
2. Its about the relationship we have with our ancestors
d. Colonialism and its impact on pathways to homelessness
i. We dehumanise Indigenous people and that allows for society to
treat these people badly. They do not care about these people
because they are seen as second class citizens.
e. Children's rights and canada's report card on adhering to these rights
i. Indigenous children are treated substantially worse than regular
children. There are pieces of legislation in place that seem to
give indigenous children an advantage but that is really not the
case
f. The spirit bear plan
i. Why does the government not do anything more when they can
be doing more
ii. There needs to be more legislature
iii. Program by program drop by drop approach is unacceptable
and exacerbates poverty against children
 iv. We know what the solutions are but have yet to do them
g. The eight stages of genocide
i. Classification
1. Identify the group at hand by grouping a particular
characteristic they share toghetehr
ii. Symbolization
1. Stereotypes everything “First Nation folks can't manage
their money”
iii. Dehumanization
1. Legitimizes and making excuses for treating people badly
iv. Polarization
1. Creating polarising views about Indigenous people “they
are all uneducated persons”
v. Preparation
1. Ensuring there are structures in place to discriminate/
work against certain populations
2. Systemic discrimination
vi. Extermination
1. The deaths of persons
vii. Denial
1. No one wants to be morally responsible
h. Jordans principle
i. Ensures First Nations kids can get services they need when
they need them
ii. The system is constructed in order to be racism
6. Summary
a. Various pathways to homelessness, the individual and structural
contributing factors, the impact of colonialism on these issues, and how
COVID-19 elevates issues of inequality.