By: Lindsay Fraser
Homelessness
Statistics
In 2008, 157,000 people were
estimated to be homeless in Canada
(Charity Intelligence Canada, 2008)
Youth aged 16 end up on the streets
more then any other age (Public
Interest, 2009)
The average life expectancy for a
homeless individual is 39 years
(Trypuk and Robinson, 2009)
It cost Canadian taxpayers $1.25
billion in criminal justice, social
services, emergency shelter, and
emergency health care for Canada’s
homeless in 2006 (Charity
Intelligence Canada, 2009)
What is Homelessness?
There is no single accepted definition of homelessness in
Canada, rather a continuum that best describes homelessness:
Absolute Homelessness- people who sleep outdoors, on the
streets, in abandoned buildings, or their car.
Concealed Homelessness- individuals who do not have a
place of their own, therefore, live with a family or friend
Relative Homelessness- individuals who have a place of
their own but are at risk of losing their home
(Echenberg and Jensen, 2008).
Possible Root Causes of Homelessness
As sited in Pohl, 2001:
1. Increase in the number of poor people in Canada
leading to an increase in the number of Canadians
living below the poverty line
2. Decrease in the number of low-income homes
available due to an increased demand for newer,
renovated homes
3. De-institutionalization of Canada’s mentally ill
population leading to an increased number of people
without a “home”
Grandfolkie Planned Change
Theory
Four steps:
Visualization: recognizing disequilibrium, weighing the pros and
cons of non-change, brainstorming and envisioning the goals to
accomplish, then visualize the change taking place(Planned Personal
Change, n.d.).
Planning Change: set clear objectives, have realistic goals, make an
action plan, and identify resources (Planned Personal Change, n.d.).
Transitions: keep one motivated and give incentives, have timelines,
communicate the intention of the change, balance the resistance,
and maintain stability (Planned Personal Change, n.d.).
Evaluation: take a break, begin to make the plans reality, and keep
records of the progress that has been made (Robbins, n.d.).
Application of Change Theory
1. Visualization:
Disequilibrium: Increase in homelessness in Canada
Pros Cons
Sense of freedom “Taxpayers pay average of 1.1
billion per homeless person a
Decrease sense of year” (Charity Intelligence
responsibility Canada, 2009, p. 3)
sense of safety
At risk for compromised mental
health, illness, suicide, and
addictions
access to healthcare services
Lack of support from family and
friends
Homelessness is often viewed as
a choice victim blaming
Planning Change
Goal: have a number of homeless people on the
streets in Canada
Planning Change
Strategies/Activities
1. Housing options
2. Resources within shelters to provide support and
information on how to access basic necessities
3. Offer skills training and employment opportunities
4. Provide adequate supports and follow-up once homeless are
put into a home
5. Create assessment tool to predict likelihood of
homelessness or vulnerable populations
6. Change stereotype of homeless population: it is not a
choice!
Transitions
Create awareness regarding housing options by
offering homeless population what they need: food,
clothes, etc
Offer publicity to donors who create awareness
regarding homelessness
Provide free meals to volunteers who work on project
Offer team meetings where workers can voice their
opinions/suggestions
Timeline
Have support systems in
place to ensure once
Housing homeless have homes,
options they can maintain them
Resources Create
0 2 years
within assessment
shelters tool
Evaluation
Relax and take everything in
Keep records of progress
Change/evaluate steps
Evaluate progress every 6 months
Short Video on Teen Homelessness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp89e8qlzow&featu
re=related
Resources
Charity Intelligence Canada .(2009). Homeless in Canada. Retrieved
March 10th, 2010, from, http://intraspec.ca/Ci-Homeless-in-Canada.pdf
Echenburg, H. & Jensen, H. (2008). Defining and enumerating
homelessness in Canada. Retrieved March 10th, 2010, from,
www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/prb0830-e.htm
Planned Personal Change (n.d.). Retrieved March 12th, 2010, from,
http://www.nursing-informatics.com/N4111/LA2_fig1.pdf
Pohl, R. (2001). Homelessness in Canada. Retrieved March 12th, 2010, from,
http://www.streetlevelconsulting.ca/homepage/homelessnessInCanada_P
art1.htm
Public Interest. (2009). Changing patterns for street involved youth.
Retrieved March 22nd, 2010, from,
http://www.publicinterest.ca/sites/default/files/YSM%20Report%20-
%20Changing%20Patterns%20for%20Street%20Involved%20Youth.PDF
Resources (cont)
Robins, P. & Robins, W. (n.d.). The grandfolkies’ guide to
managed change. Retrieved March 10th, 2010, from,
http://www.nursinginformatics.com/N4111/Grandfolkie_Change
Map.pdf
You tube. (2008). Teen homelessness. Retrieved March 22nd, 2010
from, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp89e8qlzow
Trypuk, B. & Robinson, J. (2009). Homelessness in Canada: a
funder’s primer in understanding the tragedy on Canada’s
streets. Retrieved march 22nd, 2010, from
http://intraspec.ca/homelessCanada_news-and-reports.php