Did you know that approximately 35,000 people in Canada experience homelessness on any given night? We often tend to stigmatize homeless people, by calling them “lazy” or “drug addicts” or categorizing them as “good-for-nothing”. It is time we debunk the myths about homelessness and those who experience it.

Myth #1: The homeless are alcoholics or drug addicts

In fact, much like the general population, there are only a small number of homeless people who actually struggle with substance abuse. When we see a homeless person drunk or abusing some substance it is easy to make a generalized judgement. Sometimes being on the streets makes them more accessible and prone to getting drunk or using drugs because of their situation. About 1/4th of the homeless cited substance abuse as the cause of their housing loss. In comparison to the 21.6% of Canadians that were diagnosed with substance use disorder, we can see that there the homeless are not all “drunks” or “addicts”.

Myth #2: Homeless are lazy and unwilling to work

Ask a person without a shelter, why they are in this state, and they will tell you some heart-wrenching stories. For them, it is a struggle to stay warm, clean, and finding a job is even harder. Jobs need a person applying to have a permanent address, an I.D., and a phone number, which for a person with no permanent address is a huge hurdle. In addition, unemployment among the homeless is a bigger picture than it may seem, as many homeless have a lack of education or a learning disability that makes it hard for them to get a job.

Myth #3: Choosing to be homeless is a personal decision

Homelessness is not a choice anyone makes. Countless factors contribute to homelessness, including unemployment, family separation, emotional and sexual abuse, and domestic and physical violence. Usually, a person in such a condition is struggling to find a ray of hope and in doing so they have exhausted all other options; as a result, are unable to secure housing and are forced to find a place in a shelter.

The rise in inflation has made it difficult for most Canadians to secure housing. An average 1-bedroom apartment costs almost $2200 in Ontario and even if a homeless person finds a job, they start on a minimum or low wage position which will make it hard to afford rent, food, and other living expenses.

Myth #4: Homeless are exploiting the system

The number of homeless people who receive social assistance benefits is very low. For example, in Ontario, an individual receives $733 monthly to access their basic needs and shelter, through the social assistance program. Housing and rental prices are skyrocketing, making it next to impossible for a homeless person to exploit the system. Homeless under 18 are not eligible for any social assistance without a guardian, making it impossible for them to survive. Those that are eligible have a hard time applying for these payments due to a lack of permanent addresses and other documents.

“In most cases, homelessness is a temporary circumstance — not a permanent condition. It does not encapsulate who people are.” It is time we realize how generalized perceptions have caused us to hurt the homeless population.

The current situation in Canada where inflation is on the rise, resulting in higher rents and groceries has forced people to take difficult decisions between rent and food. Sai Dham Food Bank has been serving the homeless population by providing nutritious food on a weekly basis. Every week on Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine, Sai Dham Volunteers head to different cities and locations to serve the homeless a warm meal and provide them with food that they can use to nourish themselves for a few days

Help us in eliminating food insecurity from our society, play your part by donating to our program “Feed the Homeless” program.