This study focuses on the general residents within Lethbridge rather than the homeless, but the focus is on the controversy concerning whether or not homelessness really exists in Lethbridge, how the housed think about the homeless, and how this thinking might influence or relate to current policy. The report focuses on three phenomena: debates concerning the actual existence of homelessness in Lethbridge; ideas of who the homeless are and of how they became homeless; and discussions of how to best meet the needs of the homeless. The research has four key findings related to homeless addicted Aboriginal men, homelessness and Native issues, causes of homelessness and the their needs which seemed to be more medically targeted; and reforming of the homeless to fit into society. The City Council has to think about these findings as well as structural things in place to address them such as Social Housing In Action (SHIA) which s clearly addressing structural issues in its work to increase the numbers of affordable housing units in Lethbridge, and this work must continue, as lack of affordable housing is one of the most important structural issues at work in homelessness. However, other structural issues also need to be addressed, most notably unemployment and institutional racism. The pitfalls of reducing homelessness to a property of individuals as opposed to a property of social systems must be avoided, or attempts to eradicate homelessness will not succeed.
Summary Credit:
Homelessness-Related Research Capacities in Alberta: A Comprehensive Environmental Scan, prepared by Dr. Katharina Kovacs Burns, MSc, MHSA, PhD and Dr. Solina Richter, PhD, RN for The Alberta Homelessness Research Consortium (2010)