1. What is homelessness?

As we sat down to write this book, we decided to frame each chapter around a set of questions. While this was an organizational choice, it was also an intentional choice to encourage you to begin your studies with questions at the forefront of your mind. We encourage you to take a moment at the beginning of each section to think about how you would answer the question posed in the title. In this instance, what is homelessness? We have asked this exact question to a series of leading homelessness researchers from across the country, whose work you will also have the opportunity to read.

 

Before you hear from them, take a moment to answer this question for yourself and see how your definition compares with theirs. This activity is useful in documenting your own starting point and is for your eyes only. It will not be submitted to your instructor, so you should feel free to write as little or as much as you wish to answer the question.

 

How to complete this activity and save your work: Type your response to the question in the box below. When you are done answering the question navigate to the ‘Export’ page to download and save your response. If you prefer to work in a Word document offline you can skip right to the Export section and download a Word document with this question there.

A 1993 book entitled, Down and out in Canada: Homeless Canadians opens with the quote, “In 1990s Canada, the problem of homelessness remains an enigma. The homeless are largely a social crisis for which there is no audience. There is little political currency to be made in championing the cause of the weakest in our society, those who are without benefit of shelter” (O’Reilly-Fleming, 1993, pg.1). Is it still the case that homelessness remains an enigma that no one pays attention to 30 years later? As you will see, interviews with Canadian homelessness researchers show that in fact homelessness is well understood despite its complexity. 

What remains the same is O’Reilly-Fleming’s (1993) observation that many Canadians know very little about homelessness and have stereotypical images drawn from momentary and often fearful glimpses on downtown streets or from random media images. These themes emerged as we sat down to speak independently with Dr. Stephen Hwang and Dr. Stephen Gaetz about how they would each define homelessness. 

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Dr. Stephen Hwang: What is homelessness? 

In this video, Dr. Stephen Hwang explains that homelessness can be thought of as being unhoused and not having a stable place of one’s own to live. He argues that homelessness is sometimes mistakenly viewed as an unusual state, when it is really just a continuum of housing instability and inadequacy that are part of a larger phenomenon. He offers the analogy that we recognize the complexity of nutrition as not just being about whether a person eats or starves to death, but rather we consider whether people have access to quality food at an affordable price. By thinking about homelessness in narrow ways as whether someone is absolutely homeless or not, we miss the larger issue of whether people have access to quality housing at an affordable price. Dr. Hwang notes that there are different types of homelessness that exist along a continuum, and as the definition gets broader more people are included, who are difficult to identify and engage with. He concludes that rather than becoming fixated on one specific definition of homelessness, we should focus more on being clear about what we mean when we use the term. This video is 2:36 in length and has closed captions available in English. 

Key Takeaways – Dr. Stephen Hwang: What is homelessness?

  1. Homelessness can be thought of as being unhoused and not having a stable place of one’s own to live.
  2. Homelessness is sometimes mistakenly viewed as a distinct entity that is a peculiar or unusual state. It is really just a continuum of housing instability and inadequate housing, which are part of a larger phenomenon.
    • As an analogy, we recognize the complexity of nutrition as not just being about whether a person eats or starves to death. We consider whether people have access to quality food at an affordable price.
    • By thinking about homelessness in a narrow way we are really only concerned about people who are absolutely homeless and neglecting the larger issue of access to quality housing at an affordable price.
  3. There are different definitions of homelessness that exist along a continuum. As it gets broader, from street homelessness to people at risk, it encompasses a larger group of people who are more difficult to identify and conduct research with.
  4. Rather than being fixated on getting a specific definition of homelessness, we should focus on being clear about what we mean when we use the term.

Dr. Stephen Gaetz: Creating the homeless person 

In this video, Dr. Stephen Gaetz argues that the category of homelessness is something we came up with to name a problem we created. He notes that as a society we define people by their housing status and then make judgements and infantilize them because of it, on the basis that they are a “homeless person” and therefore different somehow. Dr. Gaetz counters that it is important to begin with the assumption that this is a human being with rights. He encourages us to consider what a developing adolescent or adult experiencing homelessness needs and realize that it is not all that different than the needs of someone who has housing. Dr. Gaetz concludes that we must move towards a greater recognition that people are people, and homelessness is part of a person’s story but that it does not define them. This video is 2:16 in length and has closed captions available in English. 

Key Takeaways – Dr. Stephen Gaetz: Creating the homeless person

  1. The category of homelessness is something we came up with to name a problem we created.
    • As a society we define people by their housing status and then make judgements about them because of it.
    • We also use these judgements to infantilize people, such as enforcing curfews or prohibiting people from making choices around substance use.
    • The poor treatment we subject people experiencing homelessness to would not be tolerated by those who are housed, but we justify it to ourselves by making claims to them as being a “homeless person” and therefore different somehow.
  2. It is important to begin with the assumption that this is a human being with rights, and then go from there.
    • We should ask ourselves, what does any developing adolescent need? What does any adult need? Everyone needs a safe place, somewhere to store food, a place to sleep and recover daily, a place from which to go to work, friends, and help. Whether homeless or housed, we all have the same needs.
    • We must get to a place where we think about people as people, and remember homelessness is part of the person’s story but it does not define them.

Dr. Hwang and Dr. Gaetz both make the important point that homelessness does not define a person’s identity. Rather than thinking about homelessness as an unusual state, we must begin with the understanding that it is an experience had by human beings with human rights. The following video, Do you see me? was created by I Heart Home and explores the stories of people living in Calgary, Alberta. As you watch this video we encourage you to remember the advice from Dr. Gaetz, to begin with the assumption that this is a human being with rights, and then go from there. 

Keeping at the forefront of our minds that homelessness is an issue impacting human beings who have rights, we can now shift towards exploring the definitions. Here we begin with videos from Dr. Tim Aubry and Dr. Jonathan Greene, where they each provide an overview of the types of homelessness people commonly experience and the different factors that need to be considered in formulating a definition. 

Dr. Tim Aubry: What is homelessness? 

In this video, Dr. Tim Aubry explains that homelessness is often defined similarly in research and practice, as occurring when a person lacks their own place that is safe, sheltered, and without short-term length of stay limitations. He notes that there are different types of homelessness, including people residing in emergency shelters, sleeping rough, staying in encampments, or more hidden by staying temporarily with friends or family. Dr. Aubry concludes by discussing the Canadian definition, which further stretches to also include considerations of people who are at-risk of homelessness. This video is 2:38 in length and has closed captions available in English. 

Key Takeaways – Dr. Tim Aubry: What is homelessness?

  1. Homelessness is defined in research and practice as occurring when a person does not have their own place that is safe, sheltered, and without time-limit restrictions on how long they can live there.
  2. There are different types of homelessness.
    • People may reside in emergency shelters, be sleeping rough outside, or staying in encampments.
    • There are also hidden forms of homelessness where people stay with friends or family for short periods of time.
    • The Canadian definition stretches to include housing that is inadequate and broader considerations about people who are at-risk of becoming homeless.

Dr. Jonathan Greene: What is homelessness? 

In this video, Dr. Jonathan Greene explains that how we define homelessness as a concept, idea, and state of being changes across locations and evolves over time. He argues that since our understandings of homelessness are informed by the political, cultural, and social forces at play, there is no straightforward answer. Dr. Greene notes that currently many government indicators of homelessness reference housing, such as whether there is an adequate supply, but that this is a relatively new approach as Professor David Hulchanski shows, that emerged in the 1980s. Dr. Greene notes that in contemporary Canadian policies, such as the Reaching Home strategy, the government has adopted a continuum approach that incorporates absolutely homeless, emergency sheltered, being insecurely housed, and being at-risk of homelessness. He draws our attention to the temporal aspects of definitions as well, noting that the recent construction of chronic, episodic, and transitional homelessness has created three priority populations. Dr. Greene concludes that the definition of homelessness changes between locations and evolves over time, but that across these we want to think about the ideas of house and home, locations people can be in, and how homelessness can be experienced differently by different individuals and households. This video is 6:05 in length and has closed captions available in English. 

Key Takeaways – Dr. Jonathan Greene: What is homelessness?

  1. How we define or understand homelessness as a concept, idea, and state of being changes and evolves over time. There is no straightforward answer, but rather how we define it is informed by the political, cultural, and social forces at play.
    • Surveying documents from different nations, such as the Canadian government, European Union, or others will show different ways of defining homelessness.
    • How homelessness is understood has changed over time as well. David Hulchanski’s work shows the evolution of the term beginning in the 1980s, where the idea of homelessness became related to the idea of houselessness.
  2. Currently, many government indicators of homelessness have a housing element, such as the existence of adequate housing and secure housing. In the past, we focused more on the idea of networks and community affiliation, such that a person could be housed but still thought to be disaffiliated from society.
  3. The Canadian government, in its Reaching Home strategy, uses a continuum definition that includes being absolutely homeless, emergency sheltered, being in housing but without security, and being at-risk of homelessness.
  4. There is also a temporal element (i.e. time-based), where types of homelessness can be defined by how long the person has been unhoused. This then establishes three target populations.
    • The notion of chronic homelessness emerged in the last couple of decades, as those who may be experiencing long-term homelessness without a secure place to live. This may be defined as 6 months out of the year, or 18 months over 3 years.
    • Comparatively, there is also episodic homelessness, where people cycle in and out of homelessness for a short period. However, this may turn into chronic homelessness if the episodes become frequent or prolonged.
    • There are also people who experience homelessness related to a particular event, such as a natural disaster, and then cycle quickly back into housing.
  5. The definition of homelessness changes between locations and evolves over time. Across these, we want to think about the ideas of house and home, locations people can be in, and how homelessness can be experienced differently by different individuals and households.

As we heard from Dr. Aubry and Dr. Greene, there are different types of homelessness that people may experience. These are the result of structural factors, systems failures, and individual circumstances. Take a moment to explore these further in this interactive module from the Homeless Hub entitled Why do people become homeless? You may also wish to share this with others through your social networks and invite them to join the conversation. Be sure to follow us on Twitter using @Homeless_ebook and #UnderstandingHomelessness.

 

There are many factors that contribute to homelessness and the experience is different for every person. Yet, there is considerable value in recognizing the shared characteristics. In 2012 the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness released a definition that was collaboratively developed and has been widely adopted in research, policy, and practice across the country (Gaetz et al., 2012). Here we discuss this definition with Dr. Stephen Gaetz, President of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. Following this video, we encourage you to explore the definition further with an introductory video and then a review of the document itself. 

Dr. Stephen Gaetz: What is homelessness? 

In this video, Dr. Stephen Gaetz explains that homelessness describes a situation in which people do not have adequate, safe, and affordable housing, nor the immediate prospect of getting it. It does not arise from a person’s individual characteristics but rather is produced and sustained by society. He notes that blaming individuals for their homelessness fails to hold society responsible for its need to do something about the problem. Dr. Gaetz concludes by discussing the Canadian definition of homelessness, as a document that provides common language and a typology that has been widely adopted by researchers and governments. This video is 3:03 in length and has closed captions available in English. 

Key Takeaways – Dr. Stephen Gaetz: What is homelessness?

  1. Homelessness describes a situation in which people do not have adequate, safe, and affordable housing, nor the immediate prospect of getting it.
  2. Homelessness is not a situation that arises from a person’s individual characteristics, values, or desire, but rather is something that we, as a society, produce and sustain.
    • Homelessness does not have to exist. When people find themselves without secure, safe, and affordable housing that is a societal problem.
    • Blaming individuals for their homelessness fails to hold society and governments accountable to do something about the problem.
  3. The Canadian definition of homelessness has been widely adopted by researchers and governments through homelessness strategies.
    • The idea behind it is to provide a common language so we have a shared understanding of the types of homelessness that exist.

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Gaetz, S., Barr, C., Friesen, A., Harris, B., Hill, C., Kovacs-Burns, K., Pauly, B., Pearce, B., Turner, A., & Marsolais, A. (2012) Canadian definition of homelessness. Toronto: Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press.

Canadian Definition of Homelessness | The Homeless Hub

What do you think?​

​​human head with light bulb as brain graphicNow that you have had the chance to read through it, what do you think of the Canadian Definition of Homelessness? Is there anything you would add to it or take away? 

 

As we posed the question, “What is homelessness?” to different researchers, the Canadian definition emerged as a key document that shapes the way we collectively have come to think about homeless as existing along a continuum. The Canadian definition also serves as a starting point for thinking about the experiences of different populations and about housing as a fundamental human right.

Here we share our conversations with Dr. John Ecker, Dr. Kaitlin Schwan, and Dr. Erin Dej, where they discuss how the Canadian definition of homelessness has influenced their understandings of what homelessness means. You will also hear reference to the Indigenous definition of homelessness in Canada, published by scholar Jesse Thistle (2017), which is discussed in detail in the chapter on Indigenous Studies.   

Dr. John Ecker: What is homelessness? 

In this video, Dr. John Ecker offers a comprehensive definition of homelessness as the lack of adequate, suitable, and affordable housing, and as a violation of the human right to housing. Dr. Ecker expands by discussing the four parts of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness’ definition, which includes people who are unsheltered, emergency sheltered, provisionally accommodated, and at-risk of homelessness. He notes that it is important to think about different subgroups who experience homelessness at higher rates or in unique ways, such as women, families, and youth. Dr. Ecker concludes by drawing attention to how these definitions are westernized understandings, and points towards Jesse Thistle’s definition of Indigenous homelessness as being a useful resource for thinking about homelessness in different ways. This video is 3:32 in length and has closed captions available in English. 

Key Takeaways – Dr. John Ecker: What is homelessness?

  1. One way to look at homelessness is the lack of adequate, suitable, and affordable housing. We can also consider that homelessness violates the human right to housing.
  2. The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness has an all-encompassing definition that includes four parts.
    • Unsheltered includes people who are absolutely homeless, living on the street, or in a place that is not intended for human habitation such as under a bridge or in the woods.
    • Emergency sheltered includes people living in emergency or family shelters, such as for those impacted by domestic violence.
    • Provisionally accommodated includes people in temporary housing situations, such as transitional housing that has a date by which people must leave.
    • At-risk of homelessness are those who are in an economic or housing situation that puts them at risk of eviction or losing their housing.
  3. It is important to think about different subgroups who experience homelessness at higher rates or in different ways.
    • Women experience homelessness differently than men and tend to rely more on temporary stays with friends or family, known as couch surfing.
    • Families often double-up with others, or couch surf as well.
    • Youth homelessness is different than adult homelessness. They have left their family home as opposed to an independent home, which is an important distinction.
  4. All of these definitions of homelessness are westernized understandings. Jesse Thistle offers a different perspective, with an Indigenous definition of homelessness, but when we talk about homelessness in the West it can be different than in the Global South.

Dr. Kaitlin Schwan: What is homelessness? 

In this video, Dr. Kaitlin Schwan explains that homelessness is a condition where people lack access to permanent and affordable housing that is safe, secure, and able to meet their needs. She notes that homelessness exists along a continuum, from absolutely homeless on one end to being in core housing need on the other. Dr. Schwan argues that within a Canadian context it is critical to understand Indigenous homelessness and points towards the definition developed by Jesse Thistle that identifies 12 dimensions. Dr. Schwan concludes by noting that the 2019 National Housing Strategy Act declared housing to be a human right, and that we need to understand homelessness as a violation of this right. This video is 3:19 in length and has closed captions available in English. 

Key Takeaways – Dr. Kaitlin Schwan: What is homelessness?

  1. Homelessness is a condition that people are living in, where they lack access to permanent and affordable housing that is safe, secure, and able to meet their needs.
  2. Homelessness exists along a continuum. On the most extreme end are people who are unsheltered and sleeping rough. On the other end are people at-risk of homelessness who may be in core housing need. In between are people in shelters or transitional housing without security of tenure.
  3. In the Canadian context it is critical to understand what homelessness looks like for Indigenous peoples. Jesse Thistle has developed a definition of Indigenous homelessness that consists of 12 dimensions that are inseparable from colonization and its ongoing impact on Indigenous peoples across Canada.
    • The Indigenous definition explains homelessness as more than not having a roof, but rather a dislocation from all my relations, including family, community, land, animals, and ways of being and knowing in the world.
  4. It is critical to understand homelessness is a human rights violation. In 2019 Canada adopted the National Housing Strategy Act which states all human beings have the right to housing and that belief is what needs to drive all policy across the country. Allowing people to live in homelessness violates that human right.

Dr. Erin Dej: What is homelessness? 

In this video, Dr. Erin Dej explains the four elements that make up the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness’ definition of homelessness. She notes that the first two elements – absolutely homeless and emergency sheltered – are what people most often associate with homelessness. However, she notes it is important to pay attention to the additional elements, which sometimes get overlooked. Those who are provisionally accommodated have somewhere to stay but it is temporary, such as transitional housing, couch surfing, and leaving a correctional or hospital facility without identified housing. Dr. Dej argues we must pay special attention to those at-risk of homelessness because while they have somewhere to stay it is not safe, affordable, or acceptable, such as those who are facing eviction, living in overcrowded housing, and/or experiencing domestic violence. Dr. Dej concludes that we can also learn about people at-risk of homelessness by applying the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s definition, of those spending 30% or more on housing as being in core housing need and one crisis away from homelessness. This video is 3:34 in length and has closed captions available in English. 

Key Takeaways – Dr. Erin Dej: What is homelessness?

  1. The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness definition of homelessness has four elements in the typology.
    • The first and second are what people most often associate with homelessness. These include absolutely homeless, where people are living outside, such as on the street or in a park or encampment, and emergency sheltered, where people are staying in a shelter setting.
    • The third type of homelessness in the Canadian definition are those who are provisionally accommodated. These individuals have somewhere to stay but it is temporary and they cannot count on it long-term.
      • Examples include transitional housing, couch surfing at a friend’s house, and people in a correctional facility or hospital who have nowhere to go once released.
    • The fourth type in the Canadian definition are people at-risk of homelessness because while they have somewhere to stay it is not a safe, affordable, or acceptable place to live.
      • Examples include people facing eviction, living in housing that is overcrowded for the family composition, and/or experiencing domestic violence.
  2. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation considers those who spend more than 30% of their income on housing to be in core housing need. These individuals are one crisis away from homelessness.

Throughout this book, we will share quotes from a research study we conducted in two small / rural towns in Ontario, as one way to provide space for the voices of people with lived experience. The first of these cards is presented below. To learn more about this project and the participants, please visit the Trent University Homelessness Research Collective (2019) website.

 

Quote Source

 

A key component of the Canadian definition of homelessness is that it includes people who are at–risk of losing their housing, due to issues such as spending too much of their income on rent, living in overcrowded conditions, or living in housing that is not good quality. Whether or not the definition should include people who are at-risk has been a hotly debated topic, with some arguing that a broad definition is needed to allow us to focus on prevention, and others arguing a narrow definition allows us to focus resources on those who are most in need. 

What do you think?

human head with light bulb as brain graphicDr. Nick Falvo and Dr. Jeannette Waegemakers Schiff both discuss the issue of risk and vulnerability as factors that need to be considered carefully in crafting a definition of homelessness. As you watch these conversations, consider where you stand on this debate. Should the definition of homelessness include people who are at imminent risk of losing their housing? 

Dr. Nick Falvo: What is homelessness? 

In this video, Dr. Nick Falvo defines homelessness as relating to people living in an emergency shelter, outside, or in a structure not meant for human habitation. He notes that these individuals tend to be included in point-in-time counts. Beyond this, he explains, there are also individuals who meet the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s definition of core housing need. Dr. Falvo argues that while a narrow definition is not as widely accepted, for fear those in housing need will be forgotten, it is possible to have a narrow and broad definition that reflects these housing distinctions. This video is 1:21 in length and has closed captions available in English. 

Key Takeaways – Dr. Nick Falvo: What is homelessness?

  1. Homelessness relates to people living in an emergency shelter, outside, or in a structure that is not meant for human habitation. These individuals tend to be included in point-in-time counts conducted in communities across Canada.
  2. Beyond this, there are also many people who are not in these situations but do need affordable housing. These individuals are considered in core housing need by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
  3. Having a narrower definition, that only includes those living in shelters, outside, or in inadequate structures, is not as widely accepted as some people fear those in housing need will be forgotten. Arguably we can have both the narrow definition that coincides with point-in-time counts and the broader definition of core housing need that coincides with the CMHC.

 Dr. Jeannette Waegemakers Schiff: Defining vulnerability 

In this video, Dr. Jeannette Waegemakers Schiff explains that to understand the risk of homelessness we must consider people’s access to social and economic protections. There are some people who are relatively immune to homelessness because they have secure jobs and strong cash reserves that will allow them to become rehoused again quickly if they lose their housing. However, Dr. Waegemakers Schiff notes there is a large proportion of society who do not have the same supports to protect them, including people with adverse psychosocial issues, youth who have been displaced and alienated from their homes, women who experience domestic violence, and people with serious physical conditions who are reliant on disability income supports. Dr. Waegemakers Schiff argues that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed many pre-existing vulnerabilities and that who is at risk and who is not, casts the great divide. She concludes by discussing recent research into the vulnerability of post-secondary students during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as measures closed spaces they rely on for food and shelter. This video is 4:54 in length and has closed captions available in English. 

Key Takeaways – Dr. Jeannette Waegemakers Schiff: Defining vulnerability

  1. To understand the risk of homelessness, we must consider people’s access to social and economic protections.
    • People with good secure jobs and strong cash reserves are relatively immune from homelessness. They could have a disaster happen and be without housing, but they have the resources to become quickly housed again.
    • Conversely, there is a large proportion of society who are vulnerable because they do not have the same financial and social supports to protect them. This includes people who have adverse psychosocial issues, youth who have been displaced and alienated from their homes, women who experience domestic violence, and people with serious physical conditions who are reliant on disability supports for income.
  2. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability that a lot of people were living in prior to the outbreak. The government implemented some short-term measures but not without cost.
  3. Many people who have high vulnerability do not want to admit how close they are to homelessness, and those who are immune do not want to think about the alternative. Who is vulnerable and who is not vulnerable casts the great divide.
  4. We may overlook the number of post-secondary students who sacrifice housing security and other needs to get an education. We need to consider what happened to these individuals when pandemic measures closed spaces they rely on for food and shelter.

In this section, we have explored the question, “What is homelessness?” At the beginning, we asked you to write your own response and to keep it in mind as you progressed through the material. We encourage you now to look back at your response, or simply bring it to mind, and consider how it compares to what you have seen, heard, and read. Has your definition of homelessness changed? If so, how would you answer this question now?

 

When asked to discuss what homelessness is, researchers in the field spoke about many important issues. They began by explaining that homelessness is not an unusual state or a defining characteristic, but rather something that happens to human beings. They discussed the different types of homelessness, the various causes, and the factors that need to be considered in creating a definition. We learned from these researchers that there is a Canadian definition of homelessness that was published in 2012, that has been influential in research, policy, and practice. This definition provides a typology for thinking about homelessness as a continuum, rather than a dichotomy of being ‘homeless or housed.’ The Canadian definition includes those who are at-risk of homelessness, which other definitions classify as those who pay more than 30% of their income, making them in core housing need.

 

When students sign up to take a course on homelessness they often question what there is to know that could take an entire semester to learn. We hope that even this brief introductory section demonstrates the complexity of homelessness, what we already know, and how much more there is still to learn. Join us in the next section, as we consider how we know what we know about homelessness.

 

Podcast: What is homelessness? (34:16)

Click the link below to listen to all of the researchers answer the question “What is Homelessness?” in audio format on our podcast!

 

 

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Understanding Homelessness in Canada Copyright © 2022 by Kristy Buccieri, James Davy, Cyndi Gilmer, and Nicole Whitmore is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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