The Silent Struggle in Canada: Hidden Homelessness
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “homeless”?
It might evoke an image of someone living on the street or in a shelter, perhaps sleeping on a subway or streetcar to escape the harsh Canadian winter—- but there is another shape of homelessness that remains largely unseen.
The people we typically associate with homelessness are often those living in shelters or completely unhoused. This form of homelessness is called “absolute homelessness,” which 2.2% of Canadian households report having experienced (Statistics Canada, 2023). However, more than 11% of households have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, according to Statistics Canada.
So, why do percentages differ?
It is because of hidden homelessness.
What is hidden homelessness?
Hidden homelessness is a form of homelessness where people temporarily stay in housing or accommodation by living with others such as friends or relatives but they have no guarantee that they can stay there long-term.
It is called hidden homelessness because those people usually lack access to homeless resources even though they do not have adequate housing to support themselves.
For example, imagine an international post-secondary student who has no close family in Canada and was recently laid off. This student may be forced to leave their shared accommodation due to financial difficulties, as it could become challenging to continue paying rent without a stable income source. They might decide to stay temporarily in a friend's apartment. The situation of this individual could be considered hidden homelessness. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the number of homeless individuals would increase almost fivefold if we included people experiencing hidden homelessness.
How can we support them?
In each province and city, resources are available to help those experiencing homelessness. These may include services that provide assistance with housing, employment, and other essential needs.
If you or someone you know is experiencing hidden homelessness, consider seeking help before the situation becomes severe. At Alive House, we're developing Alive Hub, an online resource center aiming to support vulnerable communities across Canada. This hub will provide access to crucial resources for those in need. And you can help us too! If you're aware of any resources available in Canada, please share with us so we can share them with others through the hub!
Written by Akari Yanagisawa
#ComeAliveWithUs
References: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/5170-homelessness-how-does-it-happenhttps://www.homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/population-specific/hidden-homelessnesshttps://unsplash.com/photos/woman-lying-on-sofa-Ijk3UP9uRhk?utm_content=creditShareLink&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash