| Myths About Homelessness |
Dec. 24, 2009
Myth: Homelessness is only an issue in Downtown Victoria.
Reality: Although it may seem more apparent in the downtown core, homelessness is present throughout the Capital Regional District (CRD). In the Victoria Cool Aid Society’s Homeless Needs Survey 2007, 73% of those interviewed were from the four core municipalities, 4% from the Western Communities, 3% from the Saanich Peninsula and 4% from Salt Spring Island.
Myth: All homeless people are mentally ill, drug addicts or alcoholics.
Reality: Our homeless also include seniors facing rent increases, women and their families transitioning from abusive relationships, the working poor, youth who left government care with no transitional help, and low-income families unable to find affordable housing. Insufficient treatment and support services for people with mental illness, disabilities or substance abuse issues can make it difficult for them to find and maintain adequate housing. However, these people only make up a portion of the Capital Region’s homeless population.
Myth: It is easy to see people who are homeless.
Reality: All too familiar with the homeless people who live on the streets, parks or doorways, we rarely see the majority of those without homes – the hidden homeless. This includes people who live in their cars or find temporary beds: other people’s couches, garages, church basements, welfare motels or abandoned buildings. They are adults with full-time jobs, seniors on fixed incomes and children. These are the homeless we don’t see.
Myth: Most homeless people choose to be homeless.
Reality: People don’t want to be homeless; 97 percent of homeless people wish to have homes. Survival involves inadequate medical services, poor nutrition, sexual victimization, harassment and physical assault. They constantly search for shelter, and experience poor prospects for employment or appropriate permanent housing, social isolation, and the development of mental health and substance abuse problems. No one “chooses” what this lifestyle brings.
Myth: Most homeless people are to blame for their situation.
Reality: The spiral from stability to homelessness can occur in a short period of time. For some, the path to homelessness is a matter of multiple barriers such as mental health issues, disability, addiction and social issues. Others may be transitioning abusive situations and have nowhere else to go. For many it is an issue of money and housing affordability. Whether it’s a senior on a fixed income facing rent increases, a single mom who suddenly loses her job or a young adult making minimum wage, many are only one pay cheque away from homelessness.
Myth: Homeless people don’t work and don’t want to work. Instead they all collect welfare or some sort of public assistance.
Reality: According to the Homeless Needs Survey 2007, 17 percent of participants worked in jobs where income was declared, and another 41percent reported income from other sources such as binning, squeegeeing, panhandling, under-the-table jobs, sex work or illegal activities. Some of these forms of work require substantial effort, but generate little income. Some jobs are so low paying that it is extremely difficult to make ends meet, especially if childcare is required. Others, such as sex work, generate more income but are dangerous and expose the individual to physical harm, diseases, abuse and imprisonment. Forty-two percent of the survey participants said they would like help finding paid work.
Myth: Youth are on the streets because they think it’s cool and have run away from home because they don’t want to follow household rules.
Reality: Abuse and neglect are two of the main reasons youth leave home. Many studies show that nearly 70 percent of homeless youth have experienced some form of sexual, physical or emotional abuse. There are also many street youth who were wards of the state and have no home. High rental prices can also make it difficult to rent a home when making minimum wage.
Myth: There’s always a place for someone to live if they really want one.
Reality: With rising rental prices and low vacancy rates, affordable housing is a major issue for people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. Of those surveyed, 78 % identified lack of affordable housing as their main barrier to being housed.
Myth: It would be too much of a burden on taxpayers to provide homes for our neighbours who are homeless.
Reality: The Capital Regional District Regional Housing Affordability Strategy released in 2007 showed that the region could save over $9.5 million annually by providing basic housing – the savings would be $12,000 a year for each person who is homeless. Supported housing would also help marginalized citizens integrate better into our community and improve the quality of life for everyone. People who have adequate housing require less health and welfare services than if they are on the street.
Myth: It’s impossible for an individual to make a difference in solving homelessness.
Reality: People can and are making a difference in solving homelessness. Organizations and charities that help men, women, children, seniors and parents in our community to overcome homelessness rely on community support. They are able to do this one volunteer and donation at a time.
