3.3 Resource Availability
Shelter and Housing Issues
Limited Shelter Availability
The homeless in Canada are in urgent need of emergency shelter beds. In fact, 2018 documented that there were more than 25,216 people in 61 cities experiencing homelessness, either sleeping on the street or in shelters on a single night point-in-time count. Alas, the count represents an indicator and is likely to understate the totality of the situation (Statistics Canada, 2023).
Shelter Capacity Report
Summary
The graph follows the trends from 2016 to 2023 for emergency shelters and permanent beds in Canada. From 2016 through 2021, the permanent beds were more or less consistent at between 15,000 and 16,000, with the emergency shelters having minimal changes throughout this period. However, there was a significant increase in both areas from 2022, as permanent beds rose exponentially to 18,467 in 2022 and 20,864 in 2023. Emergency shelters also grew from 437 in 2021 to 561 in 2023. The rising pattern over the last few years points to a growing response to housing needs, which is likely an effort to stem increased demand for shelter services across the country.
Limited Affordable Housing
Housing unaffordability is a principal cause of homelessness in Canada. While the National Housing Strategy goal aims to lift up to 530,000 families out of housing need and build 160,000 units, the National Housing Strategy’s estimates may not be sufficient to address the scale and scope of the housing crisis, especially in the big cities where housing prices are rapidly rising(Canada’s Homelessness Crisis: What’s Gone Wrong Since the 1960s?, 2024).
A Review of Canadian Homelessness Data
A review of Canadian homelessness data, 2023
Summary
This image depicting “The Housing Continuum” by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (2018) illustrates the housing continuum in Canada, ranging from homelessness and emergency shelters to stable ones like market home ownership. It illustrates how individuals move along this continuum based on their life circumstances and support systems, illustrating that housing needs vary and are not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Insufficient Support Services
Most people experiencing homelessness have multiple and complicated needs, such as mental illness and substance use. Despite this, there is a lack of coordinated services expressly designed for meeting this multiplicity of needs in the same place and time, hence making it difficult for this population to access all the services one would hope (Healthing, n.d.).
Technology Access and Digital Exclusion
Social Media, Technology and BC Street-Involved Youth
Infographic: Social Media, Technology and BC Street-Involved Youth
Summary
This infographic looks at the ways youth in BC who are at-risk and street-involved use technology to stay connected and find resources. While barriers such as broken phones, lack of data, or limited income presented hurdles, 63% owned a cell phone, and 89% accessed the internet using free Wi-Fi. The majority used either a library or a friend’s phone to access the internet, using it to connect with friends, listen to music, or search for jobs or housing. These data illustrate how having digital access can help and hinder youth experiencing vulnerability.
Limited Internet Access
Homeless individuals have no or limited regular access to the internet, which has increasingly become important to obtain services, jobs, and remain connected with friends and relatives. Public libraries and public facilities that offer free internet services have limited hours of operation or limited computer access, thus making it hard for homeless individuals to obtain and use such facilities in an optimal manner (People Know How, 2019).
Smartphone Ownership Challenges
Although smartphone ownership among homeless people has increased, it is difficult to maintain these phones due to:
- Lack of charging stations in public places
- Limited data plans or the inability to pay for continuous service
- Risk of device loss or theft (Housing Families First, 2018).
Digital Literacy Gaps
Many homeless individuals, particularly older people or those who are chronically homeless, may lack digital literacy to effectively engage with online systems. This may lead to barriers in accessing online government services, job applications, or housing services (Homeless Hub, n.d.).
Impact on Social Inclusion and Service Access
The intersection of resource constraints and inadequate access to technology leads to significant barriers for homeless individuals, including:
- Difficulties in accessing online housing applications or waitlists
- Trouble keeping in contact with case workers or support services
- Limited ability to search for jobs or to apply for jobs online
- Isolation from social support networks and supports
- Trouble accessing telehealth services, which have become increasingly necessary
Conclusion
It is necessary to address the lack of resources and access to technology for homeless Canadians to break the cycle of homelessness. By improving shelter space, increasing affordable housing, and providing equal access to digital technologies, Canada can head toward more effective solutions to homelessness and better serve the housing insecure.
