This is an open-acces article outlining clinical guidelines for health and social service providers seeking to build relationships with Indigenous Peoples experiencing homelessness.
Key Points:
• In Canada, Indigenous people are 8 times more likely to be homeless than non-Indigenous people and represent 10%–80% of the total homeless population in large urban centres.
• The roots of Indigenous homelessness involve colonial disruptions of relationships with self, family, community, land, water, place, animals, culture and language.
• Responses to Indigenous homelessness need to be led by Indigenous Peoples and grounded in Indigenous worldviews and practices.
• Indigenous protocols regarding relationships provide a strong and practical framework for health and social service providers working with Indigenous people who are experiencing homelessness.
• The life experience of Indigenous people who are or have been homeless is an invaluable gift that can enrich communities and teach providers