What Does Homelessness

Look Like?

Homelessness & poverty in Canada

The Canadian Definition of homelessness as stated in the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH) is the situation of an individual, family or community without stable, safe, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect means and ability to acquire it. It is the result of systemic or societal barriers, a lack of affordable and appropriate housing, the individual/household’s financial, mental, cognitive, behavioural or physical challenges, and/or racism and discrimination.

The most common stereotypical view of the homelessness is a single male sitting on top of a subway vent in the downtown city. This image is the one that often accompanies the narrative of homelessness and is the stereotype that is propagated by the media. Although this image is not altogether inaccurate – it does very little to show the current reality of what homelessness actually looks like and the varied groups it is affecting.

***Graphic overview of homelessness

* 1 in 7 (or 4.9 million) people in Canada live in poverty. * Poverty costs Canada billions of dollar annually. * Precarious employment has increased by nearly 50% over the past two decades.

* Between 1980 and 2005, the average earnings among the least wealthy Canadians fell by 20%.

* Over the past 25 years, Canada’s population has increased by 30% and yet annual national investment in housing has decreased by 46%.