More than 200,000 homeless in Canada every year

Experts believe the numbers that apparently look miniscule yet has a big impact on the overall population of the country. Survey reports further point out that out of the 20,000 homeless people, 150,00 use homeless shelter at some point every year, while there are more than 50,000 people who are part of hidden homeless as they spend their nights with friends or relatives, owing to no place to go.

Contrarily it is seen that Canada shells out $7.05 Billion on an average each year to run shelter homes, providing health care, social services, corrections etc. Yet experts foresee that the problem gets bigger each year because of the fluctuating economy, tight labour market and complex social relationships.

A further breakdown of homeless people shows that single adult males between the age of 25 and 55 account for 47.5 percent of the homeless population. Youth between the ages 16 to 24 account for 20 percent. Furthermore, an estimated 20 to 40 percent homeless people are from the LGBTQ (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer) communities.

However, experts believe together the episodic and the transitional homeless people account for more than half of the resources of the homelessness system provided by the government. As they are seldom found using the shelter homes for a period or are in the hospitals, jails or emergency homes.

Analysts say the main reasons for becoming homeless is associated with loss of jobs, mental illness, addictions, family violence and abuse and extreme poverty. Downfall in the economy and uproar in the housing market also leads to being homeless.

Experts also worry on the abnormally high renting rates and low vacancies that are about to turn 30 percent of the Canadians on the brink of becoming homeless.

Government along with local NGOs are continually investing their efforts and money to solve the problem. Vancouver city Municipality in a private public partnership has been able to reduce homelessness issue 66 percent from their streets.

Calgary and Edmonton too have seen significant reductions in homelessness. Toronto too has seen a marked decline in street homelessness with the city’s outreach programs.

However, experts believe to completely eradicate homelessness problem on a serious note, affordable housing schemes should be enforced all over the country. 

(Reporting Chandan Som/IBNS)