Contemporary Causes of Aboriginal Homelessness

The high rate of Aboriginal homelessness across Canada can also be traced to the present-day marginalization of Aboriginal Peoples in political and social structures. There are multiple pathways into homelessness for Aboriginal Peoples. Aboriginal Peoples report experiences of discrimination, racism, and inequality in many domains of life, including healthcare, housing, education, employment, and income. For many Aboriginal peoples, these disadvantages are further compounded by discrimination based on gender, sexuality, class, and other dimensions of identity. Aboriginal Peoples’ experiences of homelessness are thus inseparable from other experiences of disadvantage and oppression, such as high rates of violence against indigenous women and girls and disproportionate representation in the prison system. Jurisdictional issues, such as debates about who is responsible for funding and supporting social services Aboriginal Peoples, further contributes to these disadvantages and complicates Aboriginal Peoples ability to obtain adequate healthcare, housing, education, and employment. Individual “ruptures,” such as trauma associated with sexual assault, also significantly contribute to homelessness among Aboriginal Peoples.  

Housing Inadequacy Among Aboriginal Peoples Aboriginal Peoples experience the most severe forms of housing insecurity and inadequacy of any group in Canada A significant proportion of the housing occupied by Aboriginal Peoples is not adequate or affordable Nationally, urban Aboriginal homeownership and rental rates are lower than those of mainstream Canada Aboriginal Peoples across Canada tend to experience housing discrimination as renters, owners, and landlords, and as prospective renters or owners

Additional Factors Preventing Access to Adequate Housing for Aboriginal Peoples Lower income levels Higher unemployment levels Lower education and training levels in urban centres High levels of incarceration, as well as increased risk of homelessness following incarceration High levels of sexual violence and violence against women, including specifically high rates of missing and murdered indigenous women High levels of interpersonal violence of all kinds, including Aboriginal youth gang violence and violence against Aboriginal men Experiences of historical and cultural intergenerational trauma, often resulting in tendencies towards depression, suicidality, and low self-esteem Higher likelihood of having a personal disability (e.g., physical and mental health status, substance abuse), and increased likelihood of victimization related to that disability Three times more likely to be victims of violent crime compared to non-Aboriginal Canadians