1.3 Common Stigma Around Individuals Who Face Homelessness

Homelessness is a complex social issue that has been faced in Canada. As per the index, in 2023, more than 25216 individuals across 61 communities were facing homelessness (Statistics Canada et al, 2023). Different types of homelessness have been defined as Unsheltered homeless: those who live in public or private spaces without consent (static Canada et al, 2023 ), Emergency sheltered homelessness, and those who live in emergency shelters.

Stigma from the Community

There are so many stigmas around in our society; some of them are hidden stigmas, and most people do not know that they are showing a bias against them. We can only understand the stigma in us if we think from their perspective. While creating the project, we got to interview the agency head of YOU, London Ontario- Youth Opportunities Unlimited – an agency working since 1982, which has been working in our community on behalf of the welfare of youth in their physical, mental, and other aspects. YOU are actively working on the welfare and care of young individuals who face homelessness and other issues faced by youth. We also interviewed some shelter support workers in London and Ontario; this was drafted based on the information gathered from them and from some external article sources.

Stigma From the Term ‘Homelessness’

One of the common stigmas around homeless people is that they have been diagnosed as homeless; it seems to be a bias and discrimination by name. The head of YOU – Youth Opportunity Unlimited – Ben Cunningham, says the term homelessness is an indication of stigma, and it will be more respectful if we call them individuals who face homelessness.

There is a common misconception that the individuals who face homelessness have dangerous behaviour. In some cases, it leads to refusing help for some individuals who face homelessness. Also, for this reason, they refuse to get a job in some places.

Stigma Around Landlords

The building apartment owners and landlords have a common stigma that the Individuals who face homelessness are financially incapable. “Since they have some financial support, has been given from the Ontario Disability Support Program. Landlords often judge them as a stereotype of having mental instability, and they have the inability to maintain tenancy.”
Public stigma

The public believes that “being homeless defines who a person is”. They do not consider homelessness a temporary issue; instead, they see it as a housing issue. They consider the individuals who face homelessness as a person with mental health issues, violence, and drug addiction; this seems to be a stress that homeless people have faced. Due to this stigma, they have been denied jobs and care.

Stigma Associated With Being Lazy and Unwilling to Work

There is a common stigma that individuals who are homeless are lazy and are not willing to work. Thus, this stigma is the main reason to deny work to homeless individuals. Also, it is commonly seen that if any individual who faces homelessness enters a store or any café, they are denied use of the washrooms, and they are considered shoplifters. It becomes a common negative judgment towards the people who face homelessness, and it also becomes another factor in denying them jobs. It is seen that so many individuals who face homelessness have been dropping their resumes for jobs in stores and shops, and this stigma is already there in our society (Reference: Interview).

Public Stigma

The public believes that “being homeless defines who a person is”. They do not consider homelessness as a temporary issue; instead, they see it as a housing issue. They consider the individuals who face homelessness as a person with mental health issues, violence, and drug addiction; this seems to be a stress that homeless people have faced. Due to this stigma, they have been denied jobs and care.