Homelessness

Question 1

Unsheltered:

Answer 1

individual living on the streets or in places never intended for habitation.

Question 2

Emergency sheltered:

Answer 2

individuals staying overnight in shelters designated for the homeless and those seeking refuge from family violence.

Question 3

Provisionally accommodated:

Answer 3

Individuals with temporary, insecure accommodation, such as hotels, temporary housing for new refugees or immigrants, penal institutions, friend/family ‘‘couch surfing’’, hospitals and group homes.

Question 4

At risk of homelessness:

Answer 4

Individuals who are not homeless but in a precarious situation, housing or economic, where they cannot meet public health or safety standards.

Question 5

Definition of homelessness:

Answer 5

the situation of an individual or family without stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate
prospect, means and ability of acquiring it. Include 4 types of physical living conditions: Unsheltered, emergency sheltered, provisionally accommodated and at risk of homelessness.

Question 6

Cause of homelessness:

Answer 6

1. Structural issues (inadequate income, discrimination, lack of access to affordable housing)
2. Systems failures (failed support for refugees and immigrants, discharges from institutions)
3. Individual and relational factors (personal crises, extreme poverty, family violence)

Question 7

The majority of Canadians who become homeless, is it episodic?

Answer 7

Remarkably, for the majority of Canadians who become homeless, the experience is a short, one-time event of approximately less than a month in length, and they manage to leave homelessness with little support.

Question 8

Reason for an episode of homelessness in women:

Answer 8

1. Financial Problems (27%)
2. Violence/abuse (22%)
3. Mental health problem (12%)
4. Eviction by landlord (10%)
5. Drugs Alcohol addiction (10%)

Question 9

Vulnerabilities factors for homelessness: (Structural)

Answer 9

Lack of adequate financial assistance
Low-income levels and high rents
Lack of support programmes

Question 10

Vulnerabilities factors for homelessness: (Individual)

Answer 10

Poor social support
Lack of employment
Conjugal violence
Separated/divorced
Mental health diagnosis or problem
Alcohol or substance abuse
General health issues
Housing transitions
Eviction
Unsanitary living conditions
Immigration
History of unstable housing

Question 11

Protective Factors: (Structural)

Answer 11

Availability of financial assistance
Affordable rents
Access to subsidized housing

Question 12

Protective Factors: (Individual)

Answer 12

Social and/or family network
Coping skills (self-care, self-esteem)
Employement
Cognitive skills and education
Having children on dependents
Home ownership
Good interpersonal skills

Question 13

Social Determinant of health is:

Answer 13

The condition in which people are born, lives, growth, work and age.

Question 14

Strategies in place to counter homelessness:

Answer 14

• Food banks are the number one response to food insecurity
• Advocated for their community by fighting for more affordable housing
• Thoughtful Technologies more social relevant to homeless could be used as an intervention for those at risk (A website called the “homeless nation” which is Montreal based website which is used as an access point for online medical to share stories and information and a social networking site for the homeless, A housing society in Vancouver began providing voicemail services for the homeless as means to contact them)

Question 15

Three recommendations to close the health gap:

Answer 15

1. Improve daily living conditions
2. Tackle inequitable distribution of resources
3. Measure and understand the problem and impact of action