Risks Faced by the Homeless Population
Addiction and Mental Illness
These are often cited as causes, but they can actually be the result of homelessness. The harsh living conditions are an extreme stress on the body and mind, and substance use arises as a means of coping. Psychological conditions can also manifest under this stress, and existing psychological conditions are exacerbated as well.
Targets of Crime
Homeless people are much more often the victims of crime than the perpetrators. They are often targeted for assaults, sexual violence, robbery, and even murder, because of their vulnerable situation and because they are essentially "forgotten by the system". They are less likely to report crimes against them because there is the sentiment that law enforcement is not on their side.
Health Issues
Last year, two homeless people died in the cold in Ottawa. Both the extreme cold and heat waves present a significant danger to those who cannot easily seek shelter.
The homeless are also much more susceptible to infectious diseases and respiratory illnesses, including tuberculosis, COVID-19, pneumonia, and bronchitis. Chronic conditions are worsened under those living conditions as well. Additionally, there are barriers to proper healthcare faced by the homeless, due to having no fixed address, and possibly no medical insurance or proper ID. There is also significant stigma around homelessness, and they can face discrimination in the healthcare system because of that.
Food Insecurity
Even with food provided by missions and food banks, food insecurity and hunger are prevalent in the homeless population. Food banks and soup kitchens are already overwhelmed, because a notable portion of the housed population face food insecurity as well. As well as this, a lot of the items available in food banks are individual ingredients, which is not useful to those without means to prepare or store food.
The cost of food is increasing, and so malnutrition and skipped meals are common among the homeless. These contribute to the chronic health issues that they already face, as well as the psychological stress.
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