 | Persons Who Are Homeless
STORIES
Julia is a single mother who is one pay-check away from being homeless. She
has a low income job and spends more than 30 per cent of her income on rent. She is on a long waiting list for social housing. She cannot afford child care
for her two children and is often forced
to make hard economic choices between basic needs or depending on food banks and other social assistance to make ends meet.1
After moving and attending eight or nine different schools, Mike gave up on his education, quitting after Grade 10….Mike [eventually] slept in parks and shelters. He hung out in Gore Park and the library. He went to Living Rock Ministries for food, showers and friendship. He went to employment offices for help with his resume. And nearly every day he went to job interviews. But nobody was interested.2
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Who are the Homeless? | The Challenges | Justice Issue | Ministry Opportunities | Advocacy Opportunties | Further Links & Resources
WHO ARE THE HOMELESS?
Most likely, at one time or another, you have encountered the bleak picture of a homeless person huddled over a grate, covered in a blanket or some old newspapers. This, however, is only one stereotypical face of homelessness. A different face of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness emerges when we get to know a “Mike” at a community ministry or listen to the story of someone like Julia in our church. Stories like theirs can be found in any community, but no two stories are alike. Homeless people are a very diverse group and their stories are complex: it takes more than some wood and nails to make a “home” and, for each homeless person, there are always different societal and personal issues involved in their situations. One thing, however, is consistent: it is always first about the lack of adequate shelter, or about being “houseless.” This is a basic place to start; however, even this is not so black and white. Consider the following categories of houselessness:3
Absolute houselessness is when people are “using public or private shelters” or sleeping “in public places or in any other place not meant for human habitation.”
Other people are “temporarily housed with friends or family,” which is called "concealed houselessness." These people cannot afford adequate housing and, without this temporary solution, they would be out on the street or in a shelter.
There are also many Canadians who are inadequately housed, or in substandard housing. A person in this kind of housing situation is comparable to a homeless person: s/he is “deprived of the human right of a housing situation without health hazards” which would allow that person to fully develop his/her capacities. These people and others can be at risk of houselessness: they may lose their housing “either by eviction or the expiry of the lease, with no other possibility of shelter in view.” Single parent families, Aboriginal people, the elderly, students and new Canadians are most at risk; however, middle income families facing situations of instability without community support are also at risk.
THE CHALLENGES
Factors that May Contribute to Becoming Homeless:
- Shortages of affordable housing
- High unemployment rates
- Adequate levels of minimum wage
- Poverty
- Substance abuse
- Domestic violence
- Racial discrimination
- Discrimination against the poor
- Inadequately treated mental illness
More on Persons who are Homeless or At Risk of Homelessness:
- According to Citizens for Public Justice, it is estimated that there are 4 million Canadians in need of affordable housing.4
- Based on an estimated Canada-wide homeless population of 150,000…homelessness costs Canadian taxpayers between $4.5 and $6 billion annually, inclusive of health care, criminal justice, social services, and emergency shelter costs.5
- 1 in 5 rent-paying Ontario households still spend more than 50% of their income on rent.6
- The average wait for social housing (housing partly or fully-owned by the government to assist low-income families) is between 5 and 20 years.7
- Some of the most common challenges faced by the homeless:8
- Constant search for shelter and appropriate, permanent housing
- Inadequate food and nutrition
- Shortage of appropriate clothing
- Sexual victimization, harassment, physical assault
- Inadequate medical services
- Negative or low self-esteem
- Social isolation
- Development of mental health issues and/or substance abuse
- Poor prospects for employment
Where do we Begin to Search For Solutions?
Diaconal Ministries Canada (DMC) encourages a community ministry model which incorporates justice and advocacy. When we meet people who are at-risk or homeless, our first response is often to meet their short-term needs. Churches, in particular, do a good job of organizing the collection of resources and providing material provisions for those in need. In ministering to people who are homeless, many churches, perhaps even yours, have provided meals and blankets, have also volunteered at shelters or even run a program out of their church building. These types of actions are essential to help meet the short-term needs of the homeless in our communities; however, they also have the potential of having long-term effects. Depending on the type of shelter with which you or your church is involved, the provision of food, basic needs items, children’s items etc. can help to free up resources to enable growth for a ministry or shelter; these provisions can also help residents of shelters to save the money needed to re-establish themselves. Further than that, church volunteers can be a practical expression of Christ’s love to people in shelters, impacting lives and being impacted at the same time.
JUSTICE ISSUE: All people have the right to adequate housing.
DMC agrees with Citizens for Public Justice that “affordable and adequate housing… [are] integral to the social, economic and personal well-being of individuals and families. Public justice demands that all people can access the goods and services necessary to maintain their dignity as human beings and to carry out their responsibilities. Justice requires us to ask whether our neighbours have equal access to basic rights like housing.”9 Justice also requires us to act, to find ministry opportunities that help tobegin to find answers to those questions.
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
- Learn more about the issues and challenges of finding affordable housing and helping homeless persons in Canada.
- Invite a Habitat for Humanity representative to speak at your church to increase awareness and engage your congregation in HH building projects.
- Contact a transition shelter in your community to find out the needs of the residents and organize a drive in your church or school to fill those needs (ex. mitten and sock drive, food drive, baby items etc.), or do a fundraiser to purchase gift certificates, food vouchers, or transit tickets that can be used as gifts for residents.
- Volunteer at a local shelter for people who are experiencing a housing crisis, and become a source of support and encouragement for them.
- Search out people who are ready to get involved with those who are homeless and go with them into this ministry area.
- Donate time and/or money to front-line organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Raising the Roof
- Explore starting an affordable housing project in your community with Habitat for Humanity
- Place a donation box in your office or workplace where people can contribute new personal care items (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes etc.), for a local transition shelter.
Advocacy Issue: All societies have the obligation to make progress on adequately housing all people.
If you are already involved in addressing the needs of homeless people through ministry, DMC challenges you to also engage with the issue of homelessness, and work for long-term solutions. Government or privately-funded, long-term solutions “must move beyond providing more emergency shelter beds, more sleeping bags, and more drop-in centers. Everyone needs a private, adequate place of their own. The problem cannot be solved until people without housing have settled into a stable and adequate place to live. They can then devote more time to addressing other problems they face and society can better target the non-housing forms of assistance some may require so as help them remain in their housing and become productive members of society.”10
“Public justice calls us to question the structures in our society that deny people their right to live in dignity and have equal access to resources.”11 The Canadian government, therefore, is “responsible for protecting the rights of their citizens and for promoting the well-being of communities by investing in affordable housing and providing necessary funding and infrastructures. There is a great need for strong political leadership to create a comprehensive housing strategy that ensures all Canadians, regardless of income, have access to affordable housing.”12 DMC challenges you to hold our government accountable, and to look for opportunities to advocate on behalf of those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES
- Citizens for Public Justice has developed an advocacy toolkit which “provides useful information on different methods of advocacy, when to use each, and how to get your voice heard most effectively.” http://www.cpj.ca/en/advocacy
- Get in touch with the CRCNA’s Committee for Contact with the Government, find out what initiatives it is undertaking, and get involved! http://www.crcna.org/pages/ccg.cfm
- Become informed on the current political and funding issues impacting the strategy for affordable housing within your province.
- Develop a relationship with your Member of Parliament, learning their position on governmental responses, and making them aware of your concerns.Donate to organizations involved in advocating for those who are homeless.
- Pray for homeless people and also for the government to increase its investment in affordable housing.
FURTHER LINKS AND RESOURCES
Not-For Profits:
- Committee for Contact with the Government: a ministry of the Christian Reformed churches in Canada that strives to present a prophetic witness to Canadian governments that demonstrates Jesus' ministry of justice today. http://www.crcna.org/pages/ccg.cfm
- Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ): Explore the issue of homelessness, a faith response, and suggestions for advocacy. www.cpj.ca
- Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit, faith-based organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. http://habitat.ca/index.php
- Raising the Roof: A Canadian Charity dedicated to long-term solutions to homelessness. http://www.raisingtheroof.org/au-our-index.cfm
Government Programs/Policies:
- The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada’s National Roundtable on Poverty and Homelessness: 14 significant Christian organizations come together around the issue of homelessness in Canada. www.evangelicalfellowship.ca
- Canadian Council on Social Development: An organization whose mission is to develop and promote social policies inspired by social justice. Use the search engine to find useful material on homelessness. http://www.ccsd.ca/home.htm
Research:
Books:
- "The Cardboard Shack Beneath the Bridge" by Tim Huff: A way to start a conversation with children on homelessness.
- "God in the Alley: Being and seeing Jesus in a broken world " by Greg Paul.
- "Under the Overpass" by Mike Yankoski. A journey of faith on the streets of America.
DVDs:
- "Where God left his shoes - the Chrismas Miracle" starring John Leguizamo (2007). Recommended for Youth Groups.
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Footnotes:
1 Ling, Trixie, from “Housing Insecurity: the Face of Poverty.” Available from http://www.cpj.ca/en/content/housing-insecurity-face-poverty
2 Clairmont, Susan, from “A Hand Up for Mike.” The Hamilton Spectator, July 15, 2006
3 The following quotations and categories of “houselessness” are from Homelessness: A proposal for a Global Definition and Classification, by Sabine Springer, Habitat International, Vol. 24, 2000, pp. 475-484.
4 Citizens for Public Justice, from their website: www.cpj.ca
5 Laird, Gordon from Shelter found at http://www.ccsd.ca/pubs/2007/upp/SHELTER.pdf
6 From Where’s Home 2008, a report on affordable housing data prepared by Lapointe Consulting, with assistance from the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada –Ontario Region.
7 From Where’s Home, 2008
8 Hulchanski, J. David from “Homelessness in Canada” available at www.raisingtheroof.org
9 From “Time to Ensure Housing For All” available at the Citizens for Public Justice web site: www.cpj.ca
10 Hulchanski, J. David
11 Taken from the Citizens for Public Justice web site: www.cpj.ca
12 From “Time to Ensure Housing For All”
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