Homelessness In Canada Essay

The issue of homelessness exists not only in lesser developed countries, but in Canada as well, affecting a wide variety of individuals across the country in many ways. The consequences of inadequate housing are becoming even more apparent as rates of homelessness rise each year, with an estimated 160,000 Canadians facing homelessness annually (Fitzpatrick-Lewis et al., 2011). Fitzpatrick-Lewis et al. (2011) stated that “there is no common definition for homelessness, and it remains a challenge to enumerate this population” (p.2). However, Echenberg (2020) explains that homelessness is often defined using two specific aspects; the recurrence and length of time spent without housing and the specific housing situation itself. Although the experience

Frankish et al. (2009) explains “there is no single pathway to homelessness, but rather homelessness is the result of a complex interaction of factors” (p. 24). Individuals who experience multiple factors with the potential to contribute to homelessness may be more vulnerable than others. Some of these vulnerable populations include indigenous people, victims of abuse, those suffering from mental illness, substance users, people with disabilities, and low-income earners or individuals already living in poverty (Gaetz, 2010). Since the impacts of homelessness typically worsen the longer one spends without adequate housing, it is important to consider which populations are most likely to get stuck in the cycle of homelessness. Goering et al. (2011) discussed the correlation between mental illness and addiction problems among homeless people, noting that the prevalence of these things in unhoused populations is notably higher than that of the general population. As well, Goering et al. (2011) also stated that individuals with mental health issues are more at risk for numerous, repeated, and longer periods of homelessness. In this paper, I will closely examine how Community Health Nurses can intervene with this population as I feel they are particularly vulnerable to chronic or ongoing

An individual’s physical environment alone has a significant impact on health, as it simply puts individuals at a higher risk for illness and injury. Frankish et al., (2009) points out that the risk of assault is significantly higher in unhoused populations. Furthermore, the inability to have shelter during inclement weather or access to clean drinking water can also be detrimental to the health of individuals. Unhoused populations also often must resort to living in shelters or other unideal accommodations, putting them at risk of various infectious diseases, yet another factor leading to poorer overall general health. The combination of addiction, mental illness, and homelessness also significantly affects the social status of these individuals, which in turn creates poorer support networks. Lower social status, addiction issues, and mental illness all come with a stigma that typically prevents or discourages individuals from accessing healthcare services. If these individuals are not comfortable accessing healthcare, their wellbeing inevitably suffers. Furthermore, the personal coping mechanisms of these individuals is also impaired by homelessness, as they may spend a large amount of their energy worrying about basic needs such as food and shelter, leaving