Risk and protective factors of precarious housing among Indigenous people living in urban centres in Alberta, Canada

In Canada, Indigenous people are over-represented among people experiencing homelessness and other forms of precarious housing. In an effort to better understand the varied factors that might contribute to this situation, administrative data collected about individuals utilizing housing support services in seven Alberta, Canada cities were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between a categorical dependent variable measuring two housing situations (permanent/stable housing and precarious housing) and demographic, socioeconomic, and personal health problem predictor variables for Indigenous people within the study sample (n=1106). The analysis found that living in a larger city, having more income and education, and being married were all protective factors from being precariously housed. Having an addiction was found to be a risk factor for precarious housing. The findings suggest the need for more detailed investigation of the impact of addictions on housing for Indigenous people along with an assessment of the types of housing resources available for Indigenous people in smaller urban communities.

Publication Date: 
2015
Pages: 
65-94
Volume: 
72/73
Issue: 
2015
Journal Name: 
Canadian Review of Social Policy
Location: 
Alberta, Canada