Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the number of people living on the streets in Canada, even if they are not visible on the street, has been increasing steadily over the last fifteen years. The author points out that homelessness, defined as any person, family or household that has no fixed address or security of housing tenure, can affect people of any age, gender or ethnic background and is caused by a variety of reasons such as mental illness, low-paying jobs, demolition of rental units and disconnection from family and community. The paper relates that the combination of poverty and inadequate access to health care results in a much higher mortality rate among the homeless population than among the general population.

From the Paper:

"Infectious disease ranks among the most serious consequences of poverty, such as tuberculosis, hepatitis A, B, and C, and HIV/AIDS. Although AIDS is a disease of poor people in poor countries, HIV rates are also very high in areas of concentrated poverty throughout North America. In Toronto, roughly 38 percent of the homeless population is infected with tuberculosis, which is higher than the global rate. The spread of tuberculosis is fueled by malnutrition, overcrowding and immunosuppression, which are conditions found in the homeless populations all across Canada."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Barnsley, Paul. "Homeless in your homeland." Wind Speaker. November 01 1998. Retrieved March 21 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• Hardil, Kathy. "Disease and death: Canada's mounting toll of poverty and homelessness." Canadian Speeches. November 01 2001. Retrieved March 21 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• "No fixed address." Canada and the World Backgrounder. May 01 2004. Retrieved March 21 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• Pirisi, Angela. "Homeless seniors' unique mental health needs require attention."CrossCurrent - The Journal of Addition and Mental Health. December 22 2003. Retrieved March 21 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• "Putting a face on poverty: many think it's a disgrace that there should be homeless and poverty-stricken people in a country as rich as Canada, but hundreds of thousands of us are struggling financially." Canada and the World Backgrounder. March 01 2005. Retrieved March 21 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.

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