Search Result

Seniors are more at risk of becoming homeless for many different reasons. A lack of income to pay for housing along with a shortage of affordable and secure housing is a major problem that residents of the Downtown Eastside and the City of Vancouver are facing. Deteriorating physical and mental health, exposure to violence and abuse, social isolation, discrimination, death of a partner and relationship breakdowns are all factors that can increase the risk of homelessness for seniors. Trends have demonstrated that the number of the homeless population continues to rise and the number of available and affordable housing continues to decrease. The Vancouver housing crisis has made it virtually impossible for homeless seniors to obtain and maintain housing. Furthermore, with the undergoing demographic changes of the aging Canadian population, it is highly probably that a portion of the older population will be at great risk of experiencing homelessness in their lifetime. This report will seek to provide a Government-relations advocacy strategy for First United Church Community Ministry Society (FUCCMS). This will be achieved by analyzing existing research, theories and current practices in place to address the homeless problem amongst seniors. This research also includes qualitative interviews conducted with seniors who are homeless, are in temporary shelters, in transitional housing, are currently living on the streets, or whom have previously experienced homelessness.