Urban Homelessness in Canada

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer briefly reviews the homelessness crisis afflicting many urban centers in Canada. Specifically, the paper looks at the causes of the problem, the attitudes of politicians and what they have done to combat the scourge. In addition, the writer discusses what can be done to rescue the situation. The writer maintains that social housing and rent supplements will save lives and will also allow Canadian cities to save money by sparing them the burden of having to care for ill and at-risk individuals who lack a roof over their heads.

From the Paper:

"When one takes the time to probe into the matter, it is fairly clear - and lamentably so - that politicians have done a poor job of creating an official mandate for bureaucrats that makes them accountable, responsive and congenial to the needs of the most vulnerable members of Canadian society. For instance, homeless women contacted by the Toronto Star in a survey conducted within the last year report that government welfare offices who should be offering assistance to the homeless often view them with borderline disdain. Not to be overlooked, women in Toronto who have used that city's shelters in the past detail the troubling absence of security for women leaving the shelters after using their services. Indeed, a woman named Kathy Kunsman reports that sexual predators would literally line up in close proximity to the shelters so that they could accost women as they left."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Chisholm, Patricia, Morris, Naomi, Bergman, Brian, and Eisler, Dave. (1998, March 23). This is a human problem. Maclean's, 111(12): 22-23.
• Doolittle, Robyn. (2006, June 22). Street-savvy women report on the problems of being homeless. Toronto Star. Retrieved April 4, 2007 from Newspaper Source database.
• Gillespie, Kerry. (2002, June 27). Homelessness, transit left off Ottawa agenda. Toronto Star: B03.
• McLaughlin, Maryann. (1987). Homelessness in Canada: The Report of the National Inquiry. Ottawa: Canadian Council on Social Development.
• Peressini, Tracy, and Engeland, John. (2004). The Homelessness Individuals and Families Information System: A case study in Canadian capacity building. Canadian Journal of Urban Research, 13(2): 347-361.

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• Analytical Essay # 138311 : "Who are the Homeless in Urban Canada?"

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