According to a report published by the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, 1 in 7 people experience homelessness in their lifetime. Of these individuals, 33% are children and youth, and 26% are women. Women and children are the most vulnerable members of our society, and they are also the most likely to experience homelessness.
Women are more likely than men to experience financial instability and poverty, which can lead to homelessness. They are also more likely than men to be victims of violence, which can force them to leave their homes. In addition, women are more likely than men to be single parents, which can make it difficult to find affordable housing that meets their needs.
Children are also at risk of homelessness because they cannot earn an income to support themselves. They rely on adults to provide for their basic needs, but when adults experience homelessness, they often cannot take care of their children properly. This can lead to children becoming homeless themselves.
The problem of homelessness is exacerbated by the fact that there is a shortage of affordable housing across Canada. A recent report by the National Housing Strategy found that 1.7 million Canadian households are in need of affordable housing. This means that even if every homeless person in Canada had a roof over their head, there would still be a shortage of affordable housing for low-income Canadians.
The good news is that the government has recognized the problem of homelessness and is taking action to address it. National Housing Strategy aims to reduce chronic homelessness by 50% within 10 years. The strategy includes a $40 billion investment in affordable housing, which will create up to 300,000 new affordable homes across the country. In addition, the government has also created a $2 billion fund to help vulnerable people find and keep housing.
There is still more work to be done to end homelessness in Canada, but with the government's commitment to invest in affordable housing and help vulnerable people access safe housing, we are one step closer to achieving this goal.
Homelessness is a complex issue with many causes and effects. Women and children are among the most vulnerable members of our society and they are also the most likely to experience homelessness. The good news is that the government is taking action to address this problem with a $40 billion investment in affordable housing through the National Housing Strategy. By creating more affordable homes and helping vulnerable people access safe housing, we can reduce chronic homelessness by 50% within 10 years.
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