Six Important Questions About the Homeless
- How many people are homeless in Canada?
It’s difficult to know for sure, but many thousands of men, women and children are homeless across the country.
- Where do homeless people sleep?
Outside in the summer, but in a few available emergency shelters in winter if they can. These may be full, so they sleep in garages, parkades, under bridges, in doorways – wherever some shelter can be found.
- Are people homeless because they don’t have enough money to live somewhere?
Money is part of the problem. Other issues that homeless people struggle with are addictions, abuse, illiteracy, and mental or emotional illness.
- Don’t government programs take care of homeless people?
Welfare provides very little food, clothing and other basic neccessities. Private relief agencies help, but demands are growing.
- What do homeless people need to have a better life?
They really need people and agencies that will give them help, hope, healing and teaching.
- What do homeless people have in common with us?
Like us, all homeless people were once children who dreamed of nice lives and important jobs when they grew up. None of them ever wanted to be homeless. Sadly, life has not turned out that way. They need our help.
