HIGHLIGHTING HOMELESSNESS & RISK FACTORS

Highlighting Homelessness and Risk Factors

(Originally published June 6, 2022 · Updated for Supreme Care-Connect)

Homelessness does not always look the way we expect it to.

Many people experiencing homelessness, or at risk of becoming homeless, do not fit a single image or stereotype. Homelessness is not a choice, and it can affect individuals and families at any stage of life.

According to Raising the Roof, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to long-term solutions to homelessness, approximately 235,000 Canadians experience homelessness each year, with families with children representing one of the fastest-growing groups. Poverty and its underlying contributors remain key drivers. These may include poor physical or mental health, violence or abuse in the home, job loss, discrimination, and a lack of affordable housing.

This post was originally written during a period of profound social and economic strain. The realities it describes have not disappeared. In many communities, they have intensified.

A personal testimony from a family at risk

The following testimony was shared to illustrate how employment loss, housing insecurity, and systemic barriers can intersect for families in Canada.

“In September 2020, I was fired from my job. It was the day I would never forget. I believe I was fired because I reported that I was being harassed and discriminated against in the workplace.

My complaint was ignored, and I was dismissed under the claim of performance issues. When I sought help, the individuals involved made my working conditions unbearable. I was excluded, harassed, racialized, and labeled a troublemaker. I lived in constant stress and experienced panic attacks while still employed.

Not long after losing my job, our landlord gave our family notice to end our tenancy. We had never missed a payment and had always paid rent on time. We pleaded not to be evicted, especially for the sake of our children.

For months, we searched unsuccessfully for housing. Potential landlords asked for multiple months of rent upfront, and bidding wars became common. There was not a single day when we were not afraid of where we might end up.”

This experience is not isolated.

Workplace discrimination, fear of reprisal, and lack of meaningful accountability continue to affect employment stability. Job loss can have immediate and lasting impacts on physical health, mental health, and housing security. For many families, one destabilizing event can set off a chain reaction that is difficult to recover from.

Social determinants of health

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, the social determinants of health include factors such as:

• Income and employment
• Housing
• Education
• Disability
• Race and social exclusion
• Access to health services
• Gender and gender identity
• Food security
• Social safety nets

The CMHA also identifies three determinants as particularly significant for mental health:

• Freedom from discrimination and violence
• Social inclusion
• Access to economic resources

When these determinants are compromised, the risk of homelessness increases.

What the data continues to show

A Statistics Canada report (2021) examining emergency department data in Ontario found that homelessness was worsening over time, affecting younger populations, and increasingly present in smaller and rapidly growing municipalities. Due to data limitations, the report noted that homelessness was likely undercounted.

In April 2023, the City of Hamilton declared a state of emergency related to homelessness, reflecting pressures felt across many Ontario communities.

Stigma also plays a significant role. People may avoid disclosing housing insecurity due to shame, fear, or lack of trust in systems that have previously failed them. At the same time, eviction rates have risen, and renters continue to face increasing vulnerability.

A Nursing Perspective

From a community-based nursing perspective, homelessness and housing insecurity are not abstract policy issues. They show up in health outcomes, missed care, unmanaged conditions, and delayed help-seeking.

Access to stable housing is foundational to health.

At DSUPREME®, we continue to reflect on how nurse-led, community-based care can support individuals and families experiencing marginalization, instability, or increased risk. This includes advocating for dignity, improving access to care where possible, and recognizing the limits of what health care alone can address.

This post remains part of that reflection.

Why this still matters

Supreme Care-Connect exists to hold space for conversations that are not always comfortable but are necessary. This includes acknowledging how employment practices, housing systems, discrimination, and access to care intersect.

Homelessness is not a single issue. It is the outcome of many systems interacting, often without coordination.

By revisiting this post, we recognize that the realities described in 2022 are still present today. The language may evolve. The context may shift. The need for awareness, compassion, and accountability remains.

Insights

This piece reflects insights drawn from DSUPREME®’s community-based nursing practice and advocacy-informed reflection. It was originally written in 2022 and remains relevant in understanding how social determinants of health continue to affect individuals, families, and communities.

                                      (CMHA, 2022)

From a community-based nursing perspective, poverty and housing insecurity continue to have a direct impact on health, access to care, and outcomes. These realities remain part of the broader context in which community nurses practice, reflect, and advocate for dignity, access, and safety. Supreme Care-Connect exists to hold space for these reflections and share practice-informed insights.

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