Homelessness Research

Stats Canada – Saint John poverty rates

Do not exclude the data to just middle-aged men, it is much larger of a

demographic, including women and children.

Homlesshub.ca

Mental health + homelessness + Scholarly articles + Canada

'Our home, our way of life': spiritual homelessness and the sociocultural dimensions of
Indigenous homelessness in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada

- Interviewed individuals felt as though their homelessness was being brought upon by
rapid sociocultural changes brought upon by colonialism. (Christensen, 804). A feeling of
home spreading to the sense of security and independence of a freedom to live a way of
life of their people.
- 50-100 (1.4-2.8%) of the local population as of 2008 had experienced homelessness in
the town of Inuvik. (Christensen, 806). Similarly, 5% of the population in Yellowknife had
experienced homelessness as of 2008. (Christensen, 805).
- The researcher observed a growing need for emergency care shelters (Christensen,
806). In the areas studied 90-95% of those who experienced homelessness were
indigenous identifying persons.
- Indigenous men being more vulnerable due to heightened rates of addiction and suicide
relative to the majority of the Canadian population while having the poorest rates of
mental health. (Christensen, 807).
- Women are more vulnerable to types of hidden homelessness which can account for
why women are under-represented in emergency shelter rates. (Christensen, 807).
- The treatment of individuals who attended residential schools has led to lasting trauma
which has led to rising levels of poor mental health. Individual traumas play a critical
role in shaping the homeless experience among general populations. Just the presence
of individual experiences does not explain the elevated rates however the correlation
with trauma linked with colonialism and government policies associated with Indigenous
peoples has had a cumulative impact. (Christensen, 811-812).

Bringing politics and evidence together: Policy entrepreneurship and the

conception of the At Home/Chez Soi Housing First Initiative for addressing
homelessness and mental illness in Canada
- There exists a “quality chasm” between the proportion of individuals with serious
mental health issues that should be receiving treatment and those who actually are
receiving it. (Goering, Macnaughton, and Nelson, 101)
- The inadequacy of mental healthcare services results in an overrepresentation of those
with MI’s amongst the ranks of homeless and impoverished individuals, 50% of those
studied in 2 NA cities within shelters are those with serious mental illness. (As above)
- Compounding issues such as: Affordability, loss of housing stock, divided accountability,
and a general lack of common view on solutions require actions to facilitate an end
point.
- As a response to policy failure and the growing public concern both Canada and the US
have undergone federal policy change review processes.
- Regardless of any evidence attesting to importance, social problems must compete with
each other in order to gain the attention of policy makers. (As above, 103)

Exploring opportunities for healthy aging among older persons with a history of
homelessness in Toronto, Canada
- The homeless population is broadening as the demographic shifts to include members
of various social groups and age cohorts. (Waldbrook, 126)
- Existing research suggests that structural changes and trends in economic and social life
are responsible for rates of homelessness increasing since the 1970’s. Trends such as
reliance on precarious employment, lack of affordable housing, reductions to social
assistance, and gaps in the mental health care system all brought about these changes.
- The factors which contribute to homelessness are highly personal and variable but there
are some dominant trends: Unemployment, earning a low income, illness, disability,
mental illness, and family breakdown. (128)
- There are also structural barriers which worsen personal issues: Lack of affordable
housing, shortfalls of government assistance programs, high unemployment rates, and
gaps in the mental health care system. (128)
- Studies have shown that chronically homeless older individuals often have histories of
mental illness, addictions, unemployment, and barriers to stable housing.
- A focus on first time homelessness in seniors has appeared due to a trend of some
losing their homes for the first times in their lives in their senior years.
- Sudden financial changes due to economic crisis can explain some of the cases for
seniors in recent years however factors such as: physical illness, disability, marital
breakdown, family violence, and declining mental health (particularly after the death of
a loved one)
- Some health problems associated with homelessness include “Accelerated aging” which
means that those who experience the situation of homelessness will develop health
problems at an earlier age than those who are housed.
- Studies conducted in Canada have identified: Tuberculosis, respiratory infections,
arthritis, musculoskeletal disorders, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, skin conditions, and serious
dental problems as the leading health factors for the homeless.
 - Addictions to drugs and alcohol are common amongst the homeless population which
further reduces their life expectancy.
- The most common mental health issues are Bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia,
and PTSD.
- The homeless population have experienced barriers to accessing primary health care
which is an explanation as to why they have a poorer health than the overall population.
Such barriers are denial of conditions, resistance to seeking care, and prioritizing food
and shelter over their own health.

Homelessness, Children, and Youth: Research in the United States and Canada –
Van Vliet & Varney

- The Canadian Government stopped providing housing assistance for the poor around
1970-85 and cut federally funded supply of social housing for 25000 unit per year to zero
in 1993.
- Homelessness and rental housing insecurity now affect tens of thousands of urban
Canadians, especially those with single-parent families, aboriginal people, or minorities.
- 2 types of children have been clustered due to homelessness: The higher and lower
functioning groups. Higher functioning groups do well despite the stresses that
homelessness brings upon them and the lower functioning group experience significant
problems in terms of behaviour, adaptive functioning, and achievement.

Dental health of homeless adults in Toronto, Canada Figueiredo RL, Hwang

SW, Quiñonez C

- A lack of permanent residence, motivation, health insurance, and money make the
homeless population especially vulnerable due to their significantly limited access to
healthcare. The combined social exclusion and nomadic lifestyle affects their
understanding of health care services and their availability.
- Barriers to care include a lack of trust and unrealistic expectations of healthcare
professionals and a lack of policy and service options aimed at meeting their needs.
- In Canada, dental care is mainly limited to those who can pay out of pocket or with the
assistance of employment/insurance coverage. Public healthcare does not cover dental
care and has very limited dental programs. There is no organized program which can
directly assist those who are homeless.
- Via a study of 191 homeless adults only 3% did not require any treatment for dental
issues.
- The availability of dental services could positively impact the health and lives of the
homeless population where dental issues are extensive. (Short and Long Term)
- The issue of dental problems cannot be solved simply be having services available but
coupled with programs of income security, adequate housing, and nutrition.
Working Homeless Men in Calgary, Canada: Hegemony and Identity -
Steven Persaud, Lynn McIntyre, Katrina Milaney
- Food acquired by the working homeless would primarily be from shelters and food
banks, meals provided generally lacking in nutritional and caloric values. The supplies to
feed those requiring meals were also insufficient, generally running out of supplies.
Additionally, food that was given would be difficult to preserve or travel with, being
confined to backpacks.
- A general honour rule amongst those who are homeless, never taking advantage of
others. The act of stealing from another person would be stigmatized while the act of
stealing from a business would be considered okay due to there being a victimless crime
in a sense.
Predictors of Mental Health Service Utilization by People Using Resources
for Homeless People in Canada - Jean-Pierre Bonin, Louise Fournier, Régis Blais
- It is well documented that the homeless and impoverished community suffers from
mental illness at a rate much higher than that of those who are not. Around 19-30% suffer
from affective disorders.
- Despite awareness and the growth of public interest there is still inadequate access to
services.
- Some barriers include a service providers reluctance to treat this type of client. The
clients themselves can also be distrustful of these providers and the authorities.
- The study has confirmed that there are noneconomic barriers for those who are homeless
or impoverished.
- The use of a coordinated treatment program is effective in reducing drug and alcohol use
due to being designed to meet the needs of those being treated.

Homeless and incarcerated: an epidemiological study from

Canada. Saddichha S, Fliers JM, Frankish J, Somers J, Schuetz CG, Krausz MR
- Those of the homeless population show a higher rate of public arrests with the offences
linked to drugs, theft, shoplifting, and sex work. In line with other studies, these crimes
are mainly minor and are the direct result of their efforts to survive on limited resources.
798
- An early age of incarceration can lead to repeated incarcerations over time. 798
- Prison, sex work, and drug data.

Health Care Cost Matters for Homeless People: An Example of

Costing Mental Health and Addiction Services in Homeless
Shelters in Canada - Jeffrey S Hoch, Carolyn S Dewa, Stephen W Hwang, Paula
Goering
- Toronto has the largest homeless population in Canada. Around 4200 staying in shelters
each night and around 32000 using the shelter system.
- A large amount of shelter funds are being directly and indirectly used to fund healthcare
related activities. Around 64% of these shelters report a deficit.
 - Use for determining what can be done to fix the issue.

Homeless Hub
https://homelesshub.ca/sites/default/files/attachments/2.3%20CPHI%20Mental%20Health
%20Mental%20Illness%20and%20Homelessness.pdf
- Not all people with mental health issues become homeless, it is actually not even the
leading cause of those reporting why they became homeless.
- While homeless, individuals are more likely to experience compromised mental health
than the general population. Some mental illnesses can precede the onset of
homelessness; however, they may worsen with continued homelessness.
- Reported stress levels of homeless male youths have rates that are 2x higher than the
non-homeless.
- Coping methods are different: Homeless youth are more likely to focus on substances
and self-harm while the homed youth can speak to someone close to them or through
productive problem-solving.

State of Canadian Homelessness

https://homelesshub.ca/sites/default/files/SOHC16_final_20Oct2016.pdf

Stephen Gaetz, Erin Dej, Tim Richter, & Melanie Redman (2016): The State of Homelessness in Canada 2016.
Toronto: Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press.

Homeless hub SJ Data

https://www.homelesshub.ca/community-profile/saint-john