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Toronto’s Homelessness Crisis

Toronto Metropolitan University

GEO793

November 1, 2024

For: Valentina Capurri

From: Jason Zhu - 501172352

Introduction

Currently, Toronto boasts of being among the greatest cities to live in due to it being one

of the most diverse and prosperous cities in Canada, yet homelessness in the city is at its worst.

Daily, an estimated one to four thousand people are homeless, have no permanent place to sleep,

and are living in the streets or other precarious environments. It is not only a phenomenon related

to poverty but also a multifactorial phenomenon whose causes can still amplify the problem.

Covid-19 also deepened these difficulties and revealed the fragility of low-income people and

their safety net deficits.

This essay explores the primary causes of homelessness in Toronto, examining how

factors like high housing costs, income inequality, mental health challenges, systemic policy

issues, and preventative measures contribute to the growing crisis. It assesses the severe or

significant social effects of homelessness in people's lives, especially the terrible toll it has on

their health, both physical and psychological, the hardship it brings to society's general costs and

the social wrench. With awareness of these intricate links, this essay inculcates the

appropriateness of the policies that, if put in place, and the cooperative measures in place.

Working with homeless populations will improve the quality of life of all Torontonians and

support local community sustainability.

Causes of Homelessness in Toronto

Economic Factors

One of the most pressing contributors to homelessness in Toronto is the city’s high cost

of living, particularly the skyrocketing prices in the housing market. The average rent of even a

tiny apartment is much higher than the wages most low-income earners can get, meaning that
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they can no longer afford homes and find themselves on the streets. The increases in property

prices cannot be understood outside of the high levels of demand and the urbanization of

Toronto, which has also experienced significant levels of gentrification. Thus, many people

cannot afford homes in this city anymore.

Income inequality and job insecurity further compound this problem. Despite this,

Toronto's economy is currently doing well in some particular industry sectors; more of the city's

people experience dwindling wages and fewer opportunities to secure paying jobs that would

allow them to earn a living wage. It means that while the cost of living increases, wages do not,

and more people are pushed to the edge of abandoning the home they cannot afford, thus causing

job loss and being evicted. The increase in homelessness has only been compounded by

situations such as job loss, achievable when you consider industries such as hospitality and retail,

sectors that were highly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These sectors hold menial jobs

that many low-wage earners hold, and as it is widely known, any mishap or a downturn in the

economy, they are left vulnerable to the streets.

Policy and Systemic Issues

Beyond economic hardship, homelessness in Toronto is fueled by policy and systemic

failures. One module that stands out is the city's low number or rate of affordable housing

constructions. As Toronto's population increases, the availability of affordable accommodations

has not rested at the same pace (Andrade et al., 2020). Most local governments are still putting in

inadequate resources for affordable housing to cater to the populations' needs, let alone address

inadequacy and homelessness, and gentrification continues to cause high rates of rent increases

in areas that used to be affordable by those occupying the units.

Furthermore, the essential provision of social services for mentally ill people or

substance-dependent populations is highly underdeveloped. Many people with mental health

problems cannot easily seek professional help and, therefore, never receive the necessary

assistance to stay housed. Alcohol and drugs become the means of survival and, at the same

time, a way of delaying the search for a house, and if the support is missing, people just stay in

rings of homelessness. These challenges emerged due to the COVID-19 outbreak, where more

animals crowded the shelters, and services were demanded than could be delivered.

Impact of Homelessness on Individuals and Society

Physical and Mental Health

Homelessness takes a profound toll on physical and mental health. Many persons

sleeping in the streets or temporary shelters are at times shocked by extreme weather conditions,

poor hygiene, and a shortage of health care that increases the possibility of becoming ill. Some

physical diseases are respiratory infections, malnutrition, dermatological diseases due to poor

shelter, and poor health care (Descarpentrie et al., 2022). In addition, poor health is a ubiquitous

aspect of homeless populations, where acute diseases, including diabetes and hypertension, are

more prevalent than in the general population and are difficult to effectively treat while living on

the street and being intermittently incarcerated.

The mental health impact of homelessness is equally devastating. Lack of permanent

residence also increases the rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD) among people experiencing homelessness. Some men have many other mental health

problems that are worsened by the prejudice of homelessness because it nurtures despair. When
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people cannot find a stable living environment, they cannot get the help they need, so for many,

getting out of homelessness ends up being almost impossible.

Social Impact

The homelessness crisis also affects the broader community in Toronto. Roads and parks

are the sleeping points, and the failure of the housing system changes the community settings,

sometimes creating unsafe neighbourhoods. Although it is important to note that the majority of

homeless people are harmless, the visible signs of homelessness create negative attitudes toward

such people. This hurts homeless individuals as they are discriminated against in the market for

jobs and homes, in addition to the social discrimination that they are bound to face in society.

From an economic perspective, people experiencing homelessness cost much in dollars to

the relevant authorities. Emergency shelter services, healthcare, and police intervention

requirements of homeless people are significantly higher than the costs likely to be incurred on

preventive measures (Glumbikova et al., 2020). The homeless population uses lots of services

like hospitals and emergency services, putting the public costs up. Combating homelessness,

therefore, through prevention policies would not only correct the social wrongs done to such

people but would also relieve a burden on fiscal control.

Possible Solutions to the Homelessness Crisis

Policy Interventions

To effectively address the homelessness crisis in Toronto, the city must prioritize robust

policy interventions that enhance housing affordability and accessibility. High prices per square

meter of housing and increasing rents have led to the evolution of Toronto to a city that is
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unattainable to many, hence the dire need for proper affordable housing in the long run. Public

intervention in constructing cost-effective housing through policies such as subsidy provisions

for rent and the use of private sector participation in housing construction is paramount to

reversing the existing trends (Allegrante & Sleet, 2021). Through tax credits, grants, and

subsidies, the city needs to incentivize developers to construct low-cost housing units within new

developments, increasing the housing stock for low-income earners. Besides, rent controls and

tenant protection laws would add more stability to tenants' lives and reduce unfair hikes in rent

prices and unwarranted evictions.

Another impactful approach is the "Housing First" model, which provides homeless

individuals with immediate, permanent housing as a foundational step towards addressing their

needs. Pursuing permanent housing, instead of waiting for people to solve their problems as the

precondition to qualify, Housing First resorts to the permanency principle as one of the

prerequisites for recovery. The large-scale expansion of Housing First in Toronto could be

revolutionary in providing participants with a firm starting point for mental health, addiction, and

employment services with the security of being free from the risk of homelessness.

Furthermore, improved access to mental health and addiction support services is essential

in breaking the cycle of homelessness for many individuals in Toronto. A considerable number

of people face mental health problems and substance dependence that underlie and perpetuate

their homelessness, to which there are limited effective responses available. More appropriate

treatments based on assessment include providing free or low-cost mental health and addiction

services in community-based centers specifically designed for homeless people because

homelessness is caused by substance addiction, mental illness, and poverty (Gabriel et al., 2022).

By addressing mental health and addiction services as well as housing plans, Toronto could
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revamp the lives of people without homes by preventing homelessness and lessening the burden

on public services.

Community-Based Solutions

Local organizations and charities are greatly important in meeting the homeless's basic

needs and delivering quality support services that enrich the lives of such people. Some of the

non-profit organizations in Toronto are important because they help provide food banks,

temporary shelters, and counselling services, which touch on mental health and health care

services for people experiencing homelessness. Many of these organizations serve as the initial

contact with homeless people, providing safety, food, and shelter when these individuals are

most desperate. Increased funding to these non-profit organizations would increase the capacity

of reaching out to many people within society and provide better services that extend to job

training agencies that offer training to enable people to secure jobs and legal services such as

eviction prevention and rights to shelter, among others.

Outreach and community mobilization are central to creating long-term political will and

support for policies ending homelessness and accommodating solutions. This way, the public can

become informed about homelessness through informative campaigns conducted by community

organizations, and in the process, the community will also be reached and changed to become

more empathetic to those who are homeless (Mellor & Benoit, 2023). Awareness campaigns

assist in understanding the structural factors that lead to homelessness, thus changing people's

focus from finger-pointing to understanding the structural reality.

Preventative Measures

Preventing homelessness requires addressing issues before they lead to housing loss.

Employment and job training services targeted at populations with specific needs, such as

low-income individuals and young people aging out of the foster care system, can provide

essential skills to help them secure stable employment. Such programs can help an individual

move away from poverty. Family and youth support services are also critical in preventing

homelessness, particularly for young people who may be fleeing abusive or unsupportive homes.

Educational programs and housing facilities tailored for homeless youth can also help reduce the

rate of homelessness (Ermita & Rosenthal, 2024). Financing parenting programs, counselling,

and other programs that help to sustain and strengthen clans can help avoid states that contribute

to homelessness.

Conclusion

The problem of homelessness in Toronto reflects a complex problem that is grounded in

the context of ethnic inequalities and substantial social and economic problems. Persisting social

problems such as high housing costs, increasing income inequality, mental health issues, and lack

of adequate social support mechanisms thus contribute to this problem, which affects not only

individuals but the entire society. Addressing homelessness proposes, at the policy and

community levels, changes in the social welfare system that can support the homeless population

and facilitate their integration into society.

References

Allegrante, J. P., & Sleet, D. A. (2021). Investing in Public Health Infrastructure to Address the

Complexities of Homelessness. International Journal of Environmental Research and

Public Health, 18(16), 8887. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168887

Andrade, F. M. R., Simões Figueiredo, A., Capelas, M. L., Charepe, Z., & Deodato, S. (2020).

Experiences of Homeless Families in Parenthood: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of

Qualitative Evidence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public

Health, 17(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082712

Descarpentrie, A., Estevez, M., Brabant, G., Vandentorren, S., & Lioret, S. (2022). Lifestyle

Patterns of Children Experiencing Homelessness: Family Socio-Ecological Correlates

and Links with Physical and Mental Health. International Journal of Environmental

Research and Public Health, 19(23), 16276. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192316276

Ermita, K. C., & Rosenthal, D. M. (2024). Exploring Mental Health Services for Youth

Experiencing Homelessness in East Asian Pacific Regions: A Systematic Scoping

Review. Children, 11(7), 864. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070864

Gabriel, M. D., Mirza, S., & Stewart, S. L. (2022). Exploring Mental Health and Holistic Healing

through the Life Stories of Indigenous Youth Who Have Experienced Homelessness.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20), 13402.

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Glumbikova, K., Rusnok, P., & Mikulec, M. (2020). Impact Evaluation of the Provision of Social

Housing on the Use of Social Services by Homeless People in the Czech Republic.

Sustainability, 12(23), 10184. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310184

Mellor, A., & Benoit, C. (2023). Understanding the Diversity of People in Sex Work: Views

from Leaders in Sex Worker Organizations. Social Sciences, 12(3), 191.

https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12030191