Ending Homelessness In Canada Essay
With the recent affordable-housing crisis that has been transpiring in Canada, homelessness has become a highly significant social issue (Gaetz, Gulliver, & Richter, 2014, p. 5). To address the issue of homelessness, the Alberta Secretariat for Action on Homelessness (Secretariat) released the document “A Plan for Alberta: Ending Homelessness in 10 Years” in 2008. The philosophy behind this plan is Housing First which was popularized in New York City in the 1990’s (Calgary Homeless Foundation, 2014, p. 1).
A Rights Issue The Government of Canada (2015) ratified the United Nations’ International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in 1976 (para. 1). In the ICESCR (1966), article 11 states that everyone and their family has a right to an “adequate standard of living” and other basic needs such as food, clothing and housing. The article also stated that everyone had the right to the “continuous improvement of living conditions”. Article 2(2) also ensures that the ICESCR (1966) be applied to all persons without discrimination. However, from the recent trend regarding homelessness, it seems that Canada is having …show more content…
One was considered chronically homeless if they were “continuously homeless for a year or more, or have had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years” and “have been sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation” or in emergency shelters (Secretariat, 2008, p. 7). Conversely, transient homelessness was explained as a lesser degree of chronic homelessness. Individuals who needed support with finding permanent housing and did not have any significant barriers to employment were considered employable homeless. The Secretariat (2008) noted that homeless families had a high rates of women with children who were fleeing domestic violence and were attempting to find a stable living situation
A Rights Issue The Government of Canada (2015) ratified the United Nations’ International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in 1976 (para. 1). In the ICESCR (1966), article 11 states that everyone and their family has a right to an “adequate standard of living” and other basic needs such as food, clothing and housing. The article also stated that everyone had the right to the “continuous improvement of living conditions”. Article 2(2) also ensures that the ICESCR (1966) be applied to all persons without discrimination. However, from the recent trend regarding homelessness, it seems that Canada is having …show more content…
One was considered chronically homeless if they were “continuously homeless for a year or more, or have had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years” and “have been sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation” or in emergency shelters (Secretariat, 2008, p. 7). Conversely, transient homelessness was explained as a lesser degree of chronic homelessness. Individuals who needed support with finding permanent housing and did not have any significant barriers to employment were considered employable homeless. The Secretariat (2008) noted that homeless families had a high rates of women with children who were fleeing domestic violence and were attempting to find a stable living situation