It Could Have Been You

Homelessness is often blamed on the individual, but many people are just victims of systems and circumstance.

Escaping Abuse, or Relationship/Family Breakdown

Especially for women and youth, escaping an abusive partner or family member is a significant cause of homelessness. They lose their only home in the process, and if they do not have anywhere safe to stay, then they will end up sleeping in their car, in shelters or on the streets. This can even happen sometimes after a breakup or being kicked out. 

"Reno-victions"

Tenants in generally low-income areas are sometimes evicted, by no fault of their own, so that the owners can renovate the place and rent it out for a much higher price. Again, if they have no "support system" (friends, family that can give them a place to stay temporarily), then they can be left homeless. This is a situation that is hard to escape, because it is difficult to be approved as a tenant after an eviction or a period of homelessness.

A bylaw is being developed to stop these evictions, but people have already been affected.

New Arrival

Around 65% of people in homeless shelters are refugees and new arrivals. In fact, people have been directed to go to the Mission straight from the airport. There are whole families staying in shelters, people arriving here with close to nothing in the middle of winter, and 

We deliberately accept this many people, but we don't have the infrastructure to support or temporarily house them. This is irresponsible - a false promise to the people that we decide to take in then immediately abandon, as well as a strain on the support systems for our existing homeless population. 

Addiction and Mental Illness

These are the most commonly cited, as well as stigmatised, causes of homelessness. However, it must be considered that socioeconomic class is a very important factor in this, and that most people abusing substances never experience homelessness. Only a small fraction of the population with serious mental conditions end up homeless as well. It is a person who, due to low income, already has housing instability, and less access to treatment, services, or support, who becomes susceptible to losing their housing.