Homelessness in Canada Viewed Through a Sociological and Economic Lens

Introduction Researchers from the Parliament of Canada have proven that there are â€Å"as many as 300,000 homeless in Canada† . Homelessness is a major social issue which is present in society throughout most of the world; when it comes to Canada it is no exception. The homeless are known as people who do not have a home or a stable place of residence, they are seen as individuals who sleep in â€Å"shelters, public places, vehicles, abandoned building or someone else’s home† . In the past few years homelessness in Canada has become a growing social issue. Researchers say that there are approximately one hundred million homeless individuals who live in public areas, which means they are that one hundred million out one billion homeless individuals who are not appropriately sheltered . Most homeless individuals are part of minority groups such as immigrants, aboriginals, youth, women and families. However, a number of the homeless are simply part of different cultural communi ties or they may just be mentally ill. There are three types of homeless individuals such as, chronically homeless, cyclically homeless and temporarily homeless . Chronically homeless are individuals who are faced with mental illnesses or substance abuse, cyclically homeless are individuals who had a situation change in their life for the worst and lastly temporarily homeless are individuals who become homeless but not for long .There are many questions and concerns about the homeless population since the causes and consequences are negatively impacted. Historical overview Homelessness in Canada is seen as major social issue. In the 1980’s the homeless population started to increase . The increase of homelessness was lead by a variety of situations such as â€Å"crimin... ...melessness,† http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/prb991-e.htm, (accessed April 2, 2012). Stephen W. Hwang, et al. "Drug problems among homeless individuals in Toronto, Canada: prevalence, drugs of choice, and relation to health status." BMC Public Health 10, (January 2010): 94-100, EBSCO Academic Search Premier (accessed February 22, 2012). A. Thomas McLellan, et al, "Individual characteristics of the literally homeless, marginally housed, and impoverished in a US substance abuse treatment-seeking sample." Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology 43, no. 10 (October 2008): 839-840, EBSCO Academic Search Premier (accessed April 4, 2012). Gerhard Buchkremer, â€Å"Prevalence of mental illness among homeless men in the community,† Original Paper Journal 40 (October 2004): 385, EBSCO Academic Search Premier (accessed February 29, 2012).