Why are people homeless?
Why are people homeless?
Everyone who is homeless has their own story. Each of the stories is usually linked to one or more of the following:
- They don’t have enough income
- They can’t find affordable housing
- They don’t have access to health or social support services
Not having enough income means that person does not have enough money to pay for the basic necessities of life.
The 2008 Greater Vancouver homeless count found that less than half the people surveyed had a predictable source of income. Welfare payments and other government income assistance help some people pay for housing costs, but the maximum housing allowance available to a single person on welfare is $375/month.
Affordable housing means housing that costs a reasonable amount compared to a person’s income. In the Greater Vancouver area, the average rent for a one bedroom apartment is just over $800 per month. This amounts to half of what a person working 40 hours a week at $10/hr earns before any taxes or deductions.
A good measure of affordability is housing that costs no more than 30% of the pre-tax income of someone earning a modest income.
Support services are the health and social services that some people need in order to find and keep housing. Support services can include drug and alcohol treatment, mental health services, counseling, and assistance with daily living. Sometimes these support services are delivered as part
of a housing service (e.g., a nurse on site) and sometimes they are in the community (e.g., community mental health services).
We all have a role to play in solving homelessness.
*This information republished with thanks to the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness
Click here for a printable version of this information.
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