Homelessness in Canada has grown in size and complexity in recent years. While
historically known as a crisis only of urban centers such as Toronto, Vancouver,
Calgary, and Montreal, the increasing incidence of homelessness in the suburbs
is necessitating new services and resources.
The demographic profile of Canada's homeless population is also changing.
While in the past men used to comprise the vast majority of homeless persons,
now women and children represent the fastest growing subgroup of the homeless
population, followed by youth. This change has meant that food banks and homeless
shelters must be able to accommodate all sorts of people and be prepared with
toys, diapers and educational materials on hand if the need for them should
arise.
The faces of the homeless people in Canada could be the face of anyone you
see walking down the street. It is important to recognize that homelessness
is a problem that stretches across all sectors of society, and recent studies
shows that poverty is the leading cause of homelessness - not substance abuse
or mental illness. The shaky economy is only making things harder for those
that are living below the poverty line, and the price of houses, electricity
and gas, don't help matters. From Whitehorse to Mississauga, real estate prices
are at a record high. In this country, many individuals and families are forced
out of their homes because they simply can no longer afford to pay the bills.
Many volunteer and non-profit organizations are attempting to help the homeless,
and there are many ways to get involved with these groups. Through financial
donations or by volunteering your time, you can easily become part of the effort
to help homeless people find food, clothing, shelter and even assist them in
finding jobs and homes. Many drop-in centers offer job hunting tools such as
computers and fax machines to help the homeless apply for jobs. From internet
marketing Toronto to retail opportunities in Vancouver, or providing home healthcare
Belleville, there are many opportunities for these members of society, and,
like anyone else, they just need a little assistance and support to succeed.
There are many well educated and wise people currently living on the streets
of Canadian cities, and the definition of homelessness is not concrete. Absolute
homelessness refers to people living on the streets with no physical shelter,
while relative homelessness refers to those who live in spaces that do not meet
basic health and safety standards. The broad definition of homelessness includes
those who live in sub-standard or overcrowded and undesirable conditions. For
instance, a woman may live with an abusive man on their piece of Kitchener real
estate, thereby avoiding being on the streets by accepting the lesser of two
evils, but still being 'homeless'.
There are many shelters, food banks, soup and drop-in centers in almost every
community across the nation. Spending time with the homeless can open your eyes
to the plight of these less fortunate individuals. There are many ways to get
involved and join the fight to try to put an end to homelessness in Canada.
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