Homeless

62 interviews with individuals who are or have been homeless brought incredible insight into the issues facing people who are sleeping on the streets because they don’t have a home.
The participants in the homeless consultation ranged in age between 16 years and an astounding 71 years.
Each person’s story is unique, but the common thread is that they all need help finding and keeping permanent housing. Being homeless threatens survival on a daily/nightly basis.

60% homeless a year or more

6 out of 10 people interviewed have been homeless for more than a year. Nearly half are employed either full or part-time.
More than half have been admitted to hospital within the past 2 years, and fully 80 per cent have slept outdoors for at least one or more nights in the past 6 months.
Women reported trading sex for shelter, or returning to abusers just to have a roof over their head in winter.
Seniors are also “living rough” due to poverty.

People who are homeless want the same basic things that most people want: a safe, secure, clean, affordable place to call home.
These citizens offered the following ideas for helping them find and maintain housing.
- Help finding an affordable place.
- Help addressing health care needs, including mental health support.
- More money and help with budgeting.
- Someone to talk to.
- Transportation.
- Help finding furniture, clothing and wares.
- Help getting drug/alcohol treatment.
- Connecting with family.
- Help dealing with landlords.
- Help with legal issues.
- Help getting ID and health care card.
- Help finding volunteer opportunities.