Homelessness
Naomi Tang Gr.5, Ms.Dao's class
-around 47% of the homeless are single adult males age 25-55
- youth age 16-24 make up about 20%
- more and more aboriginal people become homeless as people/cities head north and west
In my flyer I wrote about the City of Toronto and not Richmond Hill because there's a lot more information about the homeless in Toronto.
In Ontario shelter users are normally homeless for around 40 months. That's about 3 years!
People just like us become homeless because of ...
- loss of job
- mental illness
- addictions
- family violence
- abuse
- extreme poverty
- changes in econmy and housing market
- not much affordable housing
Perspectives on Homelessness
My perspective: I think that everyone should have a home, food, and medical care no matter what their age, race or gender is. Everyone should be able to afford the things they need. Homelessness is a pretty big problem because every time I go downtown I see at least one homeless person. I really think that the government should try to at least decrease the number of homeless people.
People who don't think homelessness is a big problem: The following answers are based on answers that I found on Yahoo answers. " Homeless people are just lazy people that beg people for money so that they can go buy some cigarettes and alcohol." " Why can't they just get a job? "
People who think homelessness is a problem: The following answers are based off of answers that I found on Yahoo answers. " I feel sorry for the homeless. Especially, ones with mental illness. It's a sad story." "40% of the homeless are people that used to work in the military (veterans). The risked their lives for others and the government doesn't care!" " If I see someone who is homeless I don't give them money, I buy them food. "
The Homeless Hub: We believe that research can and should contribute to solutions to homelessness.
What the 3 Levels of Government are Doing
What the Canadian Government is Doing:
- the government is using a housing first strategy to the problem of homelessness in Canada
- after everyone in need of a place to live has a house the government will then provide necessary support ( ex. drug addiction)
To learn more go to http://actionplan.gc.ca/en/initiative/homelessness-partnering-strategy
- $251,000,000 every year is given to the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (see link below for more)
$16,000,000 is given to build 1,000 new supportive houses for people with addictions
To learn more go to http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page9183.aspx
- the City of Toronto provides shelters and housing for the homeless
- health care and meals are also provided for the homeless
John Tory is trying to make housing more affordable
food and clothing banks are provided
To learn more go to http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=6300ee5c3ed91410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=cfa2d62869211410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD
What the 3 Levels of Government Could Do
The Canadian Government could:
- Give money to each of the provinces and territories so that the provincial or territorial government can decide on how they want to use that money to help the homeless
- Look into the problem of homelessness and realize how big of a problem it really is
- Help build more shelters
- Create a Help The Homeless day where everyone can participate and help the homeless
- Do something to try and prevent addictions even more
- Lower prices on necessary items and increase the prices of cigarettes, alcohol, etc.
- Lower prices so necessary things (food, housing, clothing, etc. ) are more affordable for everyone
- Spend more money on trying to help the homeless
- Donate more money to shelters and organizations
- Lower the prices of housing
- help build more shelters
- give more money to organizations
I would send a persuasive letter to each of the levels of government telling them what they could do. I would also hold a fundraiser to raise money for an
What Can I Do?
- Volunteer your time at a food bank or shelter
- Donate food, clothes or money to shelters and food banks
- If you see a homeless person don't ignore them give them some change
What Your Community Can Do
- Volunteer as a large group at a shelter or food bank
- Hold a fundraiser to raise money for the homeless
- Have a food, clothes and/or money (donations) drive
Organizations and Shelters Helping the Homeless
Covenant House Toronto
- Homeless youth between the ages of 16-24 can come to the Covenant House
- 3 meals, 2 snacks, shelter, healthcare, high school education, a mental health program and job prep are provided
- To learn more and to donate go to http://www.covenanthousetoronto.ca/homeless-youth/donate
YWCA Toronto
- The YWCA is for homeless women 16 years and older
- Some of the things they provide are shelter, housing, job employment programs, counselling, support and much more
- To learn more and to donate go to https://www.ywcatoronto.org/
The Salvation Army
- The Salvation Army offers practical assistance to families and children, shelter for the homeless and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of there lives because of addiction
- The Salvation Army is not a government organization
- Here is a link to The Salvation Army's current advertising http://www.salvationarmy.ca/advertising/
- To donate and to learn more go to http://www.salvationarmy.ca/
Facts on Homelessness
- At least 200, 000 Canadians experience homelessness
- 150,000 Canadians use a homeless shelter in a year
- At least 30,000 are homeless on any night
- At least 50,000 of the homeless are "Hidden Homeless". That means that they are homeless, but they stay with friends or relatives temporarily
- Single male adults between the ages of 25-55 make up 47.5% of the homeless
- Youth ages 16-24 make up 20% of the homeless
- More and more aboriginal people are becoming homeless as cities move further north and west
- Between 6,000-22,000 of the homeless in Canada are "episodic homeless". That means that they move in and out of homelessness
SkyworksFoundation
Home Safe Toronto - Documentary Preview - family poverty and homelessness
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2015
Vancouver reduced their number of homeless people by 66% ! Why can't Toronto do that?
Bibliography
CBC News
"30,000 Canadians are Homeless Every Night"
December 12, 2014
Laurie Monsebraaten, Richard J. Brennan
" Social Groups Applaud Plan to end Homelessness in Ontario, but Urge Deadline "
December 16, 2014
Covenant House
"No Kid Chooses The Street"
January 8, 2015
YWCA Toronto
"Homeless Shelter"
January 8, 2015
The Salvation Army
'What is the Salvation Army Doing?"
January 8, 2015
Scholastic
"Stats on the Homeless in Canada"
January 12, 2015
Canada's Christian Library Online
"Poverty Shouldn't Be a Life Sentence"
January 12, 2015
SkyworksFoundation
Home Safe Toronto-Documentary Preview-family poverty and homelessness
January 5, 2015
Government of Canada
January 5, 2015
Government of Ontario
January 5, 2015
City of Toronto
January 5, 2015
The Homeless Hub
January 20, 2015
Yahoo
January 19, 2015