At present, approximately 150 million individuals globally are experiencing homelessness, a number equivalent to the combined population of France and the UK. The COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened the already dire housing crisis, exposing it as a violation of fundamental human rights. Access to secure and adequate housing has become a critical matter of life and death like never before.

How did it get so bad?

It is the result of systemic or societal barriers, a lack of affordable and appropriate housing, the individual/household's financial, mental, cognitive, behavioural or physical challenges, and/or racism and discrimination. Most people do not choose to be homeless, and the experience is generally negative, unpleasant, unhealthy, unsafe, stressful and distressing.

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The key driver of homelessness is the economy and the housing market. Rental costs have increased dramatically over the past 10 years and a lack of affordable housing has increased to record high numbers. Majority of shelter users receive Works or Disability Support, however, social assistance rates don’t respond to local economic factors that contribute to the growing affordability gap. Affordability is the most significant challenge in helping move people out of shelters.

What's being done

Since modern homelessness began more than thirty years ago, research and experience have overwhelmingly shown that investments in permanent housing are extraordinarily effective in reducing homelessness — as well as being cost-effective. Many of the most successful housing-based policies designed to address the homelessness crisis — in particular, permanent supportive housing for individuals living with disabilities and other special needs — were pioneered in New York City and have been replicated throughout the country. Numerous research studies have consistently confirmed that long-term housing assistance not only successfully reduces homelessness — it is also less expensive than shelter and other institutional care. Proven housing-based policies include:

Earlier this year, Calgary was forced to dismantle an encampment in its downtown after it became host to 27 violent attacks in only two months. Parks throughout Halifax are now host to permanent tent cities, with even sympathetic neighbours reporting that they’ve become nightmare hubs of screaming, fights and abandoned needles. Just last month, an RCMP officer was murdered during a routine call to a Burnaby homeless encampment.

And according to a new Leger poll for Postmedia, Canadians are not only done with all of this, but they’re increasingly convinced that their governments are actively making it worse.

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