Homelessness: The Making and Unmaking of a Crisis

Jeffrey M. Karabanow is an assistant professor at Dalhousie
University’s Maritime School of Social Work.

Jack Layton’s analysis is a disturbing portrait of homelessness in
Canada. Utilizing housing reports, government studies, academic
inquiries, community group statistics, and personal experiences as a
Toronto city councillor, he describes the desperate plights of those
“without homes.”

The causes of homelessness are complex. Throughout Canadian cities (and
most developed nations), annual income levels for the majority of
citizens have either fallen or stayed the same within the past decade.
At the same time, rental prices have increased while social housing
stocks have dissipated. Moreover, social safety net instruments (such as
social assistance and employment insurance) have become more difficult
to secure and offer less support. These economic and social predicaments
have served to widen the disparity between the rich and the poor has
widened, a gap amplified by the current government mantra of
neoliberalization—less government interference in the market place.

A result of these trends is dramatic increases in the number of
homeless people living on the streets; in shelters and other social
service environments; in motels, single-resident dwellings, in abandoned
buildings; and/or with friends or family. The homeless population
consists of families, single parents (most likely women) with children,
adolescents, immigrants and refugees, individuals facing mental
health/addiction issues, and the elderly. Through discussions with
community activists, academics, and homeless individuals, Layton points
to a major solution—increasing the number of social/affordable housing
units throughout the country. While not a new directive, his discussion
is a passionate and informative analysis of what is plaguing most major
cities throughout North America.

Layton provides a comprehensive and vivid portrait of the homeless
crisis across Canada. The horrifying experiences of many who are
homeless are highlighted, as is the undying commitment of frontline
service providers. The author critically addresses various Canadian
program initiatives and the successes and continuing struggles in making
affordable housing a priority of all three levels of Canadian
government. We can only hope that many of the recommendations set out in
this book are heard by policymakers.