Canada: the Homeless Nation?
The Salvation Army has released a report that cites some pretty stunning homelessness statistics.
- Over 3 million Canadiens have either been homeless or close to it.
- 20% of people in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have experienced homelessness or been at-risk
- 17% in the Maritimes; 16% in B.C; 14% in Alberta; 13% in Ontario.
- People aged 45-55 are most vulnerable
Those are some serious numbers.
Other reports, including a December 2009 Senate sub-committee study, confirms many of the same findings: more people are dealing with poverty and homelessness across Canada; more people are relying on services; homelessness affects everyone - even those with education and jobs.
So don't judge and stereotype the homeless. You or someone you know might just be one paycheque away.
As the Montreal Gazette reports:
"People have the misconception sometimes that the homeless population are people who are self-made in their position, but the majority of them are those that have come though a disaster of some sort, whether it be marriage (problems), job or economic times," said Perry Rowe, executive director of the Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre.
"I've got guys who have been through the shelter who were professionals. High-tech professionals have been through here, PhDs, highly educated folks who through personal disaster ended up in a situation and ended up homeless."
Read more:
Montreal Gazette
CBC.ca
The Salvation Army Report
While there may be some merit to these statistics, it seems more of a marketing campaign for Sally Ann than it is a profound study.
They make it sound as if the main cause of homelessness is lost jobs; that "many people are just one paycheque away from being homeless"... That has line is used so often these days that itès in danger of becoming a cliché.
From the Gazette article:
"Asked about the most important social problem in Canada, 16 per cent of respondents chose poverty, behind only child abuse (18 per cent) and unemployment (17 per cent), which the agency points out is closely linked to poverty and homelessness."
Indeed, unemployment "is closely linked to poverty and homelessness.
But so is child abuse/neglect.
Any 'study' or 'report' which completely ignores YOUTH homelessness, and the causes thereof, is incomplete, at best.
It would be nice if they looked a little deeper than the mere obvious.
Ignore my first post, please...
While there may be some merit to these statistics, this seems more of a marketing campaign for Sally Ann than it is a profound study.
They make it sound as if the main cause of homelessness is lost jobs; that homelessness is simply an economic problem; that it occurs suddenly, sometimes from one day to the next; that "many people are just one paycheque away from being homeless"... That latter line is used so often these days that it's in danger of becoming a cliché.
Completely ignored are the psychological/emotional elements of homelessness and poverty.
From the Gazette article:
"Asked about the most important social problem in Canada, 16 per cent of respondents chose poverty, behind only child abuse (18 per cent) and unemployment (17 per cent), which the agency points out is closely linked to poverty and homelessness."
Indeed, unemployment "is closely linked to poverty and homelessness".
But so is child abuse/neglect closely linked to poverty and homelessness.
Any 'study' or 'report' which completely ignores YOUTH homelessness, and the causes thereof, is incomplete, at best.
It would be nice if they looked a little deeper than the mere obvious.
8-) hope faith and courage 2010 and above !
read it
Don't get me wrong... The Salvation Army has done and continues to do good work with needy persons. And I suppose it makes sense that they need money to do that work.
But the words 'study' and 'report' are used far too loosely these days. They are used not only to very often point out the blatantly obvious, but are also used as a means of achieving a particular end. And also to put a spotlight on merely one aspect of a multi-faceted problem.
But life ain't that simple. Elements of life cannot be conveniently reduced to a mere 'study' or 'report'.
A 'study', or 'report' should be in-depth and profound, and not merely scratch the surface.
I just came across your blog. I would like to appreciate you for posting this such blogs and sharing this informative and valuable information with all of us.
Cold Stone Creamery Franchise
Thank you for sharing to us. There are many people searching about that now they will find enough resources by your post. I would like to join your blog anyway so please continue sharing with us
Urdu poetry|Urdu Ghazal
Thank a lot for sharing this information with all of us. I am very much impressed that someone is sharing this type information on detail. I like reading such blogs keep on updating such blog.
Content Management Solutions
I like to spend my time writing, listening to the music or playing guitar and I spend my free time on net surfing for reading new things.I just read your article its very informative one.Thanks for sharing it here.
Free VIN Report Expertise
I never found this type of information,you shared very hard topic about Homeless Nation,thanks for sharing it ,please update more information about it ,i will definitely share it with my friends...
Political Marketing Expertise
astey on 2012.01.12
I was looking for some interesting post on Try out characteristics of enterprise and this is what I found here, that's merely excellent. I am inspired by the way of writing of creator. I will be looking at later on to provide my comprehensiondell vostro 3550
They are just homeless because of personal disasters. They are still fortunate compare to others who were homeless because they can't afford it.
Kollagen|HGH Reviews
oh so sad, Canada is a immense country, but then also homelessness. This is a big disaster.
Urdu Sad Shayari blog. One of my favorite Poem is Kaho To Laut Jate Hain poetry