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92-520: The coalition was founded in 1989 by activists in the Toronto Union of Unemployed Workers, coming out of a mass "March Against Poverty". The coalition officially began its operations in 1990 with the premise of promoting concern and action around poverty, homelessness , and gentrification in downtown Toronto . The group was headquartered in Toronto. On June 15, 2000, OCAP staged a large demonstration on

184-485: A COVID-19 PCR test on arrival and must quarantine at an "approved hotel" at their own expense. At the same time, they awaited test results or recovery and were subject to "increased surveillance" during the remainder of the mandatory 14-day quarantine period. Foreign flights were only allowed to land in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver. To discourage non-essential travel, the major airlines agreed to suspend all flights to

276-519: A fifteen percent citywide decrease in total rental units, and a seven percent increase in citywide rents. Lack of jobs that pay living wages , lack of affordable housing , and lack of health and social services can lead to poverty and homelessness. Factors that can lead to economic struggle include neighborhood gentrification (as previously discussed), job loss, debt, loss of money or assets due to divorce, death of breadwinning spouse, being denied jobs due to discrimination, and many others. Moreover,

368-631: A human right. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter addressed this issue in a 2017 interview, saying, "A lot of people don't look at housing as a human right, but it is". His view contrasts with many Americans who do not believe housing is a basic human right. Many homeless enumeration studies published in the 2010s and onward utilize the term unsheltered homeless . The common colloquial term " street people " does not fully encompass all unsheltered people, in that many such persons do not spend their time in urban street environments. Many shun such locales, because homeless people in urban environments may face

460-431: A small effect on shelter and street populations. This is largely due to rent control reducing the quality and quantity of housing. For example, a 2019 study found that San Francisco's rent control laws reduced tenant displacement from rent-controlled units in the short-term, but resulted in landlords removing thirty percent of the rent-controlled units from the rental market, (by conversion to condos or TICs ) which led to

552-574: A third wave of the virus, cases began rising across most provinces west of Atlantic Canada in mid-March, prompting further lockdowns and restrictions in the most populous provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Due to a relatively low volume of cases in the Atlantic provinces, the travel-restricted Atlantic Bubble was planned to reopen; however, in late April, the third wave had spread to the Atlantic provinces. In response, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia reinstated travel bans toward

644-464: A total of four approved vaccines in the nation. However, most provinces discontinued first doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca by May 12, 2021, while the administration of the Janssen vaccine was determined unnecessary. Canada became one of the most vaccinated countries in the world, with a continually high uptake of the vaccine. Despite high general uptake of the vaccine, cases began to surge particularly amongst

736-496: Is closely connected to declines in physical and mental health. Most people who use homeless shelters frequently, face multiple disadvantages, such as the increased prevalence of physical and mental health problems, disabilities, addiction, poverty, and discrimination . Studies show that preventive and primary care (which homeless people are not receiving) substantially lower overall healthcare costs. In terms of providing adequate treatment to homeless people for their mental illness,

828-630: Is indeed an environment in which males have far greater power (O'Grady and Gaietz, 2004)." Women on the street are often motivated to gain capital through affiliation and relationships with men, rather than facing homelessness alone. Within these relationships, women are still likely to be physically and sexually abused. Social exclusion related to sexual orientation , gender identity or expression , or sex characteristics can also attribute to homelessness based on discrimination. Relationship breakdown, particularly with young people and their parents, such as disownment due to sexuality or gender identity

920-629: Is one example. COVID-19 pandemic in Canada The COVID-19 pandemic in Canada is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ). It is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ( SARS-CoV-2 ). Most cases over the course of the pandemic have been in Ontario , Quebec , British Columbia and Alberta . Confirmed cases have been reported in all of Canada's provinces and territories. The virus

1012-830: Is responsible for approval and regulation of vaccines (and other pharmaceuticals), while the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is responsible for public health, emergency preparedness and response, and infectious and chronic disease control and prevention. Vaccines are authorized by Health Canada, purchased by the Government of Canada and distributed by PHAC to individual provinces and territories in tranches based on various factors such as population size and prioritized peoples. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has also issued recommendations on how vaccines should be distributed, in what intervals and to which populations. NACI has also been involved in recommendations on

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1104-625: Is widespread among homeless people and, for around 70 percent of respondents, can be attributed to a time "before the onset of homelessness" Lack of housing serves as a social determinant of mental health . Being afflicted with a mental disorder , including substance use disorders , where mental health services are unavailable or difficult to access can also drive homelessness for the same reasons as disabilities. A United States federal survey in 2005 indicated that at least one-third of homeless men and women had serious psychiatric disorders or problems. Autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia are

1196-470: The Quarantine Act , introduced following the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak . For the first time in its legislative history, the act was used, legally requiring all travelers (excluding essential workers) returning to the country to self-isolate for 14 days, until rules were changed to accommodate fully vaccinated travelers. Between July and November, the four Atlantic provinces By mid to late summer of 2020,

1288-460: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 , part of which addressed homelessness prevention, allocating $ 1.5   billion for a Homeless Prevention Fund. The Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) program's name was changed to Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) program, and funds were reallocated to assist with homeless prevention and rapid re-housing for families and individuals. In January 2024

1380-742: The Antebellum South , the availability of enslaved labor made it difficult for poor white people to find work. To prevent them from cooperating with enslaved black people, slaveowners policed poor whites with vagrancy laws. After the American Civil War , a large number (by the hundreds or thousands) of homeless men formed part of a counterculture known as "hobohemia" all over the United States. In smaller towns, hobos temporarily lived near train tracks and hopped onto trains to various destinations. The growing movement toward social concern sparked

1472-511: The Christmas and holiday season in December, 2020 and January, 2021. Alarmed by hospital capacity issues, fatalities and new cases, heavy restrictions (such as lockdowns and curfews) were put in place in affected areas (primarily Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta) and across the country. These lockdowns caused active cases to steadily decline, reaching a plateau in active cases in mid-February 2021. During

1564-620: The Conservative administration's Rough Sleeper Initiative, the number of people sleeping rough in London fell dramatically. This initiative was supported further by the incoming Labour administration from 2009 onwards with the publication of the 'Coming in from the Cold' strategy published by the Rough Sleepers Unit, which proposed and delivered a massive increase in the number of hostel bed spaces in

1656-566: The Omicron variant , which caused provincial and territorial governments to reintroduce restrictions surrounding travel and isolation. However, in mid-February active caseloads and hospitalizations began to decrease and towards the end of February 2022, almost all provinces and territories had announced plans to lift restrictions by early March or mid-March 2022, if epidemiology remained favorable. By March 2022, more than 85% of Canadians aged five and over were fully vaccinated. On January 12, 2020,

1748-548: The Ontario Works social assistance regulations mandated doctors prescribing a diet allowance to people who were claiming welfare benefits. Working with doctors such as Gary Bloch, OCAP ensured people were informed about the allowance. In 2006, the provincial government decided that only people with specific illnesses could be prescribed the allowance. On March 18, 2020, OCAP called for the city of Toronto to repurpose empty buildings into shelter for homeless people so as to minimise

1840-585: The United States Supreme Court agreed to make a decision on whether city laws that punish individuals to limit the growth of homeless encampments are in violation of the Constitution's limits for cruel and unusual punishment . In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling, permitted U.S. cities to criminalize homeless camps, thus making it possible to jail people for sleeping in areas such as public parks. On October 3, 2024, Florida passed

1932-781: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights , adopted 10 December 1948 by the UN General Assembly, contains this text regarding housing and quality of living: 1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. 2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy

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2024-578: The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, reported to the WHO on December 31, 2019. The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 was much lower than SARS of 2003, but the transmission was significantly greater, with a significant death toll. On January 1, 2020,

2116-516: The convicts transported to the American colonies in the 18th century. During the 16th century in England , the state first tried to give housing to vagrants instead of punishing them, by introducing bridewells to take vagrants and train them for a profession. In the 17th and 18th centuries, these were replaced by workhouses but these were intended to discourage too much reliance on state help. In

2208-631: The government of the United States also include people who sleep in a public or private place that is not designed for use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. Homelessness and poverty are interrelated. There is no standardized method for counting homeless individuals and identifying their needs; consequently, most cities only have estimated figures for their homeless populations. In 2024, an estimated 150 million people worldwide were homeless, and as many as 1.6 billion people live as squatters , refugees , or in temporary shelters. Unhoused persons who travel have been termed vagrants in

2300-601: The 1990s, many were forced to leave the country in search of employment elsewhere. Many of them became illegal immigrants, seeking asylum in China, South Korea or other nearby countries. Families that made it to China were often separated, in some cases children even fled North Korea on their own. These orphaned North Korean homeless children living in China are called the Kotjebi . In 2001, the Scottish Parliament came into place. It

2392-550: The Alpha and Gamma variants. A study in Ontario found that the Pfizer vaccine was 95% effective to prevent hospitalization or death from the Alpha, Beta and Gamma variants 7 days after the second dose. Moderna was 94% effective against Alpha 7 days after the 2nd dose. Moderna appeared to be highly effective against Delta. A preprint study from epidemiologists David Fisman and Ashleigh Tuite, at

2484-519: The ArriveCAN app or website. On August 9, 2021, Canada reopened its land border to American citizens and permanent residents that are fully-vaccinated. However, the U.S. land border remained closed to Canadians entering the United States until November 8, 2021, when the U.S. began to allow non-essential land travel into the country, with a vaccine mandate for residents 18 and over (enforced via random checks). However, as with air travel, anyone re-entering

2576-479: The B.C. Ministry of Health announced that they had seen cases of B.1.617 as early as April 4. On May 14, Canada added B.1.617 (including what is now known as Delta ) to its variants of concern. On May 31, 2021, WHO announced that the variant B.1.1.7 was being renamed Alpha , P.1 Gamma , B.1.617.2 Delta and B.1.351 Beta . Early evidence out of Alberta suggested that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines would continue to be effective against death or hospitalization from

2668-627: The Canadian Pandemic Influenza Preparedness planning guidelines, which outlines risks and measures to address a viral disease, and the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Public Health Response Plan for Biological Events , which includes identifying, tracking, and ensuring rapid access to medical care. By February 27, the response plan was at level 3 (escalated). On March 18, the federal Minister of Health , Patty Hajdu , announced that

2760-472: The Caribbean and Mexico until April 30, 2021. On February 12, it was announced a third PCR test would also be required at the end of the 14-day quarantine period. The new rules for international travel went into effect on February 22. In July 2021, the government lifted the quarantine requirement for Canadian citizens and permanent residents re-entering the country, provided they submit proof of vaccination via

2852-405: The Caribbean, Mexico, and the U.S. were instructed to land at either Calgary International Airport , Montréal–Trudeau International Airport , Toronto Pearson International Airport , or Vancouver International Airport . From March 20, Canada and the United States temporarily restricted all non-essential travel across their land border . The U.S. did not restrict non-essential air travel into

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2944-696: The HB 1365 law that prohibits counties from allowing public camping or sleeping on public property without certification of designated public property by DCF according to the Florida Senate. Major reasons for homelessness include: Gentrification is a process in which a formerly inexpensive neighborhood becomes more popular with wealthier people, increasing residential house prices and forcing poorer residents out. Gentrification may cause or influence evictions, foreclosures, and rent regulation. Increased wealth disparity and income inequality cause distortions in

3036-747: The Other Half Lives and Jack London 's The People of the Abyss (1903) discussed homelessness and raised public awareness, which caused some changes in building codes and social conditions. In England, dormitory housing called "spikes" was provided by local boroughs. By the 1930s in England, 30,000 people were living in these facilities. In 1933, George Orwell wrote about poverty in London and Paris, in his book Down and Out in Paris and London . In general, in most countries, many towns and cities had an area that contained

3128-592: The University of Toronto, found that the Delta variant had a 120% greater risk of hospitalization, 287% greater risk of ICU admission and 137% greater risk of death compared to non-variant of concern strains of SARS-COV-2. Over the five years (2020-2024), five main variants have been recorded, with hundreds of different lineages, sublineages, recombinants , and mutations . As the people of Canada experience profound and rapid changes to their lives, we are all concerned about

3220-544: The WHO set up the IMST (Incident Management Support Team) across all three levels of the organization: headquarters, regional headquarters and country-level, putting the organization on an emergency footing for dealing with the outbreak. On January 7, when it appeared that there was a health crisis emerging in Wuhan, Public Health Canada advised travelers to China to avoid contact with animals, noting that they were very carefully monitoring

3312-499: The absence of accessible healthcare and social services further compounds the economic struggle for many. Inadequate healthcare can lead to untreated illnesses, making it more demanding for certain individuals to maintain employment, perpetuating a continuous cycle of poverty. Social services, including mental health support and addiction treatment, are essential for addressing the root causes of economic hardship. However, limited access to these services leaves vulnerable populations without

3404-404: The best solution to a loan default is to take and sell the house to pay off the debt can leave people homeless. Foreclosures on landlords often lead to the eviction of their tenants. "The Sarasota, Florida, Herald Tribune noted that, by some estimates, more than 311,000 tenants nationwide have been evicted from homes this year after lenders took over the properties." Rent regulation also has

3496-473: The capital and an increase in funding for street outreach teams, who work with rough sleepers to enable them to access services. Scotland saw a slightly different picture, with the impact of the right to buy ending in a significant drop in available social housing. The 1980s and the 1990s resulted in an ever-increasing picture of people becoming homeless. Due to economic crisis and famine in North Korea in

3588-562: The care process. Homelessness has migrated toward rural and suburban areas. Although the number of homeless people has not changed dramatically, the number of homeless families has increased according to a report by HUD . The United States Congress appropriated $ 25   million in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants for 2008 to show the effectiveness of Rapid Re-housing programs in reducing family homelessness. In February 2009, President Obama signed

3680-544: The country by Canadians, but Americans were prohibited from boarding flights into Canada per U.S. restrictions—a non-reciprocal restriction that was criticized as being contradictory. On April 16, Trudeau stated that the Canada/U.S. border restrictions would remain in place "for a significant amount of time". The next day, Canada and the United States agreed to extend their entry restrictions, which were to expire on April 21, for an additional 30 days beyond that date. On April 20,

3772-458: The country saw a steady decline in active cases until the beginning of late summer. In July, the four Atlantic provinces formed the Atlantic Bubble , which allowed unrestricted movement for provincial residents. Through autumn, there was a resurgence of cases in all provinces and territories. On September 23, 2020, Prime Minister Trudeau declared that Canada was experiencing a "second wave" of

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3864-676: The crown attorney in conjunction with the Toronto police spent over two years on these cases. In the early 2000s, OCAP's activities were denounced by union bureaucrats and some public officials who have objected to their tactics. OCAP evicted the Ontario Finance Minister Jim Flaherty from his constituency office in Whitby in June, 2001. By this action, OCAP wanted to demonstrate opposition to Flaherty's policies and to show him personally

3956-439: The demographics of homelessness. The experiences of homeless women and women in poverty are often overlooked, however, they experience specific gender-based victimization. As individuals with little to no physical or material capital, homeless women are particularly targeted by male law enforcement, and men living on the street. It has been found that "street-based homelessness dominates mainstream understanding of homelessness and it

4048-608: The development of rescue missions, such as the U.S. first rescue mission, the New York City Rescue Mission , founded in 1872 by Jerry and Maria McAuley . The U.S. Great Depression of the 1930s caused an epidemic of poverty, hunger, and homelessness in the United States. When Franklin D. Roosevelt took over the presidency from Herbert Hoover in 1933, he signed the New Deal , which expanded social welfare, including providing funds to build public housing. How

4140-571: The effects of being evicted. Office furniture was damaged and some OCAP members were arrested. In response, the Canadian Auto Workers union cancelled its funding for the group. OCAP squatted a house in Parkdale at 1510 King Street West, in July 2002. South Parkdale was undergoing a gentrification process and OCAP had identified 35 longterm empty properties. The selected building was chosen because

4232-592: The effects of the coronavirus pandemic . Homelessness Homelessness , also known as houselessness or being unhoused or unsheltered , is the condition of lacking stable, safe, and functional housing . It includes living on the streets , moving between temporary accommodation with family or friends, living in boarding houses with no security of tenure, and people who leave their homes because of civil conflict and are refugees within their country. The legal status of homeless people varies from place to place. Homeless enumeration studies conducted by

4324-400: The elderly). Starting March 16, only Canadian citizens and their immediate families, permanent residents, and U.S. citizens were allowed to enter the country. The only exceptions were flight crews, diplomats, and trade and commerce. Travellers showing COVID-19 symptoms were not allowed to board flights into Canada, regardless of their citizenship. International flights to Canada from outside

4416-431: The electronic kiosks for passengers arriving from central China. The agency noted the overall risk to Canadians was low, and there were no direct flights from Wuhan to Canada. The CBSA said it would not be, at that time, implementing extra screening measures, but would "monitor the situation closely". On January 23, the federal Minister of Health , Patty Hajdu , said they were monitoring five or six people for signs of

4508-900: The exact number varying by province), and that those deaths would continue to increase even as the transmission rate decreased. Tam cited factors such as outside visitors, communal living spaces, and staff being transferred among multiple facilities as particular vulnerabilities. The pandemic exacerbated pre-existing staffing issues at some facilities, including underpaid staff and being understaffed in general. On April 28, Tam stated that as many as 79 percent of Canada's COVID-19 fatalities occurred in long-term care homes. Health Canada issued recommendations for long-term care homes. They were encouraged to restrict outside visitors and volunteers, restrict employees from being transferred between multiple facilities, provide personal protective equipment , enforce physical distancing during meals, screen staff and essential visitors. On April 15, Trudeau announced that

4600-614: The federal government announced funding for an additional 49 projects to bring the total to 96. On March 20, Trudeau stated that the National Research Council would work with small- and medium-sized companies on health research to fight the virus, as part of the announcement on Canada's industrial strategy (see below). On March 23, Theresa Tam began appearing in public service announcements on radio and television, urging personal hygiene, social distancing, and against unnecessary travel. On April 6, Tam began to suggest that

4692-492: The federal government had signed an interim order to speed up access to COVID-19 test kits that would allow provincial labs to increase testing. The test kits were made by Switzerland-based Roche Molecular Systems and Thermo Fisher Scientific . Several research projects were provided federal funding to develop and implement measures to detect, manage, and reduce the transmission of COVID-19. On March 11, Trudeau announced $ 275 million in funding for 47 projects. On March 19,

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4784-650: The federal government introduced the " ArriveCAN " mobile app , which is used to conduct entry screenings and submit documentation; use of the app became mandatory in November. Since March 30, individuals showing COVID-19 symptoms were to be refused boarding on domestic flights (10 seats or more) and passenger trains. However, it excluded buses and intercity passenger rail services. From April 20, all travellers were required to wear face masks while departing and arriving on air travel, including during security screenings. Those who did not comply were prevented from proceeding. As

4876-707: The federal government planned to provide additional pay to long-term care workers. In April 2020, the Department of National Defence gave the provinces the option to get Canadian Armed Forces assistance in combating the pandemic in long-term care facilities. Quebec was the first to act, with military personnel arriving on April 17. Ontario responded next, with Premier Doug Ford requesting military aid on April 22. On March 14, Canada recommended against any international travel and advised those returning from outside of Canada, except for essential workers (such as flight crew), to self-isolate for 14 days. The Quarantine Act

4968-467: The future. It may be difficult to remain hopeful when faced with loss and uncertainty, but Canadians have many reasons for optimism, even in the most trying times. Across Canada, countless people continue to care for the most vulnerable and to provide essential services for their fellow citizens. I am thankful for their dedication and for the hope it offers. In the coming weeks and months, the people of Canada will need to continue to work together to ensure

5060-427: The health and vitality of our communities. I know that Canadians will remain optimistic and will rise to the challenges ahead. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Canada at this time." Elizabeth II , Queen of Canada , April 5, 2020 The federal government activated its Emergency Operations Centre on January 15, 2020. The federal government's pandemic response was based on two primary documents:

5152-434: The healthcare system's performance has not been promising, either. Disabilities , especially where disability services are non-existent, inconvenient, or poorly performing can impact a person's ability to support house payments, mortgages, or rent, especially if they are unable to work. Traumatic brain injury is one main disability that can account for homelessness. According to a Canadian survey, traumatic brain injury

5244-510: The homeless population in the United States, and this has presented new challenges to agencies. In the U.S., the government asked many major cities to come up with a ten-year plan to end homelessness. One of the results of this was a " Housing First " solution. The Housing First program offers homeless people access to housing without having to undergo tests for sobriety and drug usage. The Housing First program seems to benefit homeless people in every aspect except for substance abuse, for which

5336-400: The homeless population. Some formerly homeless people, who were finally able to obtain housing and other assets which helped to return to a normal lifestyle, have donated money and volunteer services to the organizations that provided aid to them during their homelessness. Alternatively, some social service entities that help homeless people now employ formerly homeless individuals to assist in

5428-416: The housing market that push rent burdens higher, making housing unaffordable. In many countries, people lose their homes by government orders to make way for newer upscale high-rise buildings, roadways, and other governmental needs. The compensation may be minimal, in which case the former occupants cannot find appropriate new housing and become homeless. Mortgage foreclosures where mortgage holders see

5520-549: The land border with the United States continued to be closed to non-essential travel, the Canadian government announced plans in October to allow family members to reunite under compassionate terms. Within the country, the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador established the Atlantic Bubble , restricting travel from other provinces but allowing free movement amongst residents of

5612-530: The lawn at Queen's Park in Toronto , during which violent altercations took place between the demonstrators and security officials, police officers, and police horses. The protestors were asking to address the Ontario Legislature in order to demand a repeal of the new Tenant Protection Act which limited tenant rights, to demand increased social housing, to demand an end to the Safe Streets Act which

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5704-426: The member provinces. On January 6, 2021, the federal government announced that all incoming travellers must present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test conducted within 72 hours of their departure time to board flights into Canada. On January 29, 2021, due to concerns surrounding SARS-CoV-2 variants , Trudeau announced a series of new travel restrictions. Travellers arriving in Canada would be required to receive

5796-460: The necessary support systems, hindering their ability to escape poverty. Poverty is a significant factor in homelessness. Alleviation of poverty, as a result, plays a vital role in eliminating homelessness. Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have studied 'unconditional cash transfers' (UCTs) to low-income families and individuals to reduce poverty in developing countries. Despite their initial concern about UCT's potentially negative effects on

5888-470: The next eight years. However, with a focus on the broader numbers of people experiencing homelessness, many people with higher levels of need got caught in the system. Work from 2017 started to address this, with a framework put in place to work towards a day where everyone in Scotland has a home suitable to meet their needs. In 2002, research showed that children and families were the largest growing segment of

5980-453: The ownership was in limbo between the city and the province. It was called the Pope squat because of the concurrent visit of Pope John Paul II . The squat was well supported by figures such as Jack Layton and Naomi Klein and the city council passed a motion suggesting the building be converted into affordable housing, but it was evicted in November 2002 by the province. OCAP noticed in 2005 that

6072-532: The past; of those, persons looking for work are hobos , whereas those who do not are tramps . All three of these terms, however, generally have a derogatory connotation today. In 2004, the United Nations sector of Economic and Social Affairs defined a homeless household as those households without a shelter that would fall within the scope of living quarters due to a lack of a steady income. The affected people carry their few possessions with them, sleeping in

6164-423: The penalty was gaol . Vagabonds could be sentenced to the stocks for three days and nights; in 1530, whipping was added. The presumption was that vagabonds were unlicensed beggars . In 1547, a bill was passed that subjected vagrants to more provisions of the criminal law, namely two years servitude and branding with a "V" as the penalty for the first offense and death for the second. Many vagabonds were among

6256-504: The poor, transients, and afflicted, such as a " skid row ". In New York City, for example, there was "the Bowery " – traditionally, where people with an alcohol use disorder were to be found sleeping on the streets, bottle in hand. In the 1960s in the U.K., the nature and growing problem of homelessness changed in England as public concern grew. The number of people living "rough" in the streets had increased dramatically. However, beginning with

6348-461: The program offers little accountability. An emerging consensus is that the Housing First program still gives clients a higher chance at retaining their housing once they get it. A few critical voices argue that it misuses resources and does more harm than good; they suggest that it encourages rent-seeking and that there is not yet enough evidence-based research on the effects of this program on

6440-624: The recipients, the researchers found promising results. The study in Kenya found that assisted households increased their consumption and savings. While the families spent more on their food and food security, they did not incur any expenses on unnecessary goods or services. This study shows that a proper approach to poverty could effectively eliminate this factor as part of a solution to homelessness. Providing access to education and employment to low-income families and individuals must also be considered to combat poverty and prevent homelessness. Homelessness

6532-579: The reinstatement of pandemic restrictions like mask mandates in provinces such as British Columbia and Alberta. Consequently, vaccine passports were introduced in all provinces and two territories. Federally, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau implemented vaccination requirements for air travel, Via Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains, and federally regulated workers, effective October 30, 2021.. In January 2022, all of Canada's provinces and territories were experiencing record-level case numbers, primarily driven by

6624-599: The rest of the country. Following Health Canada 's approval of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine , and later the mRNA-1273 vaccine developed by Moderna , mass vaccinations began nationwide on December 14, 2020. On February 26, 2021, Health Canada approved the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for use, and on March 5, 2021, they additionally approved the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for

6716-595: The risk of being robbed or assaulted. Some people convert unoccupied or abandoned buildings (" squatting "), or inhabit mountainous areas or, more often, lowland meadows, creek banks, and beaches. Many jurisdictions have developed programs to provide short-term emergency shelter during particularly cold spells, often in churches or other institutional properties. These are referred to as warming centers , and are credited by their advocates as lifesaving. Other common terms include urban campers , unsheltered , unhomed , and houseless . In 2020, an entry on homelessness

6808-489: The same social protection. The ETHOS Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion was developed as a means of improving the understanding and measurement of homelessness in Europe, and to provide a common "language" for transnational exchanges on homelessness. The ETHOS approach says homelessness is a process (rather than a static phenomenon) that affects many vulnerable households at different points in their lives. The typology

6900-547: The situation. Still there was no evidence of what caused the illness, or how it spread. On January 15, the federal government activated its Emergency Operations Centre. On January 17, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) indicated plans were in progress "to implement signage" in the Montreal , Toronto , and Vancouver airports to raise awareness of the virus. An additional health screening question added to

6992-647: The streets, in doorways or on piers, or in another space, on a more or less random basis. In 2009, at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Conference of European Statisticians (CES), the Group of Experts on Population and Housing Censuses defined homelessness as: In its Recommendations for the Censuses of Population and Housing, the CES identifies homeless people under two broad groups: Article 25 of

7084-413: The top two common mental disabilities among the U.S. homeless. Personality disorders are also very prevalent, especially Cluster A . A history of experiencing domestic violence can also attribute to homelessness. Compared to housed women, homeless women were more likely to report childhood histories of abuse, as well as more current physical abuse by male partners. Gender disparities also influence

7176-492: The unvaccinated population in provinces like Alberta, which had removed nearly all pandemic restrictions. Near the end of summer 2021, cases surged across Canada, particularly in British Columbia , Alberta , Quebec and Ontario , described as a "pandemic of the unvaccinated". A July 2021 PHAC epidemiology report said that those who were unvaccinated represented almost 90% of COVID cases reported. This fourth wave led to

7268-514: The use of non-medical face masks in public could be an "additional measure" of protection. She stated to "protect others around you in situations where physical distancing is difficult to maintain", but that this is not proven to protect the wearer and is considered complementary to all existing health guidance issued thus far. In response to backlogs in COVID-19 testing , especially provinces like Ontario , Health Canada approved new rapid testing for

7360-663: The use or disuse of vaccines to certain ages or populations. On December 26, 2020, Ontario announced that two cases of the B.1.1.7 variant had been found in Durham. On January 8, 2021, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced that the first case of the South African variant had been found in Alberta. On February 8, CTV reported that the first case of the P.1 variant out of Brazil had been detected in Toronto. On April 21,

7452-400: The virus and the numbers accelerate and keep accelerating...you will then end up with more widespread closures. So, I think as cities or hotspots cool down, if you like, the restart needs to be carefully thought of." Long-term care homes were impacted heavily by the pandemic. On April 13, Tam reported that at least half of COVID-19 deaths in Canada were linked to long-term care homes (with

7544-453: The virus. On November 3, the Public Health Agency of Canada started recommended that people wear non-medical masks with three layers including a filter. Tam said that " living with COVID-19 is something that we have to do because it's not going to immediately disappear and the population doesn't have much immunity", and went on to say that "If cases do occur and accelerate in a community, then you have to get at it early because if you let it,

7636-459: The virus. That same day, the chief public health officer of Canada, Theresa Tam , was a member of the WHO committee that broadcast that it was too early to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern . Initially, Canada faced a shortage of personal protective equipment , as the Trudeau government had reduced PPE funding as a cost-cutting measure in previous years. Health Canada

7728-424: The virus. New restrictions from provincial governments were put in place once again as cases increased, including variations of regional lockdowns . In late November, the Atlantic Bubble was disbanded because of the second wave. The federal government passed legislation to approve further modified economic aid for businesses and individuals. Nation-wide cases, hospitalizations and deaths spiked during and after

7820-593: Was added to The Associated Press Stylebook noting how "Homeless is generally acceptable as an adjective to describe people without a fixed residence" and that reporters should use person-first language to "avoid the dehumanizing collective noun the homeless, instead using constructions like homeless people, people without housing or people without homes." Following the Peasants' Revolt , English constables were authorized under 1383 English Poor Laws to collar vagabonds and force them to show support; if they could not,

7912-483: Was agreed by all parties that a ten-year plan to eradicate homelessness by the end of 2012 would be implemented. The Minister for Housing, Iain Gray , met with the third sector and Local Authorities every six weeks, checking on progress, whilst consultations brought about legislative change, alongside work to prevent homelessness. There was a peak in applications around 2005, but from there onwards figures dropped year on year for

8004-771: Was confirmed to have reached Canada on January 25, 2020, after an individual who had returned to Toronto from Wuhan , Hubei, China, tested positive. The first case of community transmission in Canada was confirmed in British Columbia on March 5. In March 2020, as cases of community transmission were confirmed, all of Canada's provinces and territories declared states of emergency. Provinces and territories implemented, to varying degrees, school and daycare closures, prohibitions on gatherings, closures of non-essential businesses and restrictions on entry. Canada severely restricted its border access, barring travelers from all countries with some exceptions. The federal Minister of Health invoked

8096-504: Was declared by the presiding judge to be a mistrial due to a hung jury . The Crown dropped the charges against Heroux and Pilipa but elected to proceed again against Clarke. All charges against Clarke were eventually dropped when a judge threw them out owing to the Crown's failure to disclose evidence expeditiously. Charges against most other defendants had mixed results; most were either acquitted or had their charges dropped. In all, however,

8188-403: Was invoked by Hajdu on March 26, making self-isolation a legal mandate for travelers (excluding essential workers) returning to the country. It also prohibits those who are symptomatic from using public transit as transport to their place of self-isolation, and prohibiting self-isolation in settings where they may come in contact with those who are vulnerable (people with pre-existing conditions and

8280-487: Was launched in 2005 and is used for different purposes: as a framework for debate, for data collection purposes, policy purposes, monitoring purposes, and in the media. This typology is an open exercise that makes abstraction of existing legal definitions in the EU member states. It exists in 25 language versions, the translations being provided mainly by volunteer translators. Many countries and individuals do not consider housing as

8372-735: Was proportionate, but seventeen community groups which included Ontario Public Service Employees Union , Parkdale Community Legal Services and the National Action Committee on the Status of Women called for an inquiry to be made by the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services . In the aftermath, upwards of 40 people were arrested and charged, including three high-profile OCAP members — John Clarke , Gaetan Heroux and Stefan Pilipa. The defence argued that videos demonstrated police brutality . The eventual trial of these three

8464-612: Was targeting the homeless and poor, and to reverse the 21.5% cut to welfare payments instituted by the Conservative government. The protestors, which included large numbers of homeless people directly affected by Premier Mike Harris ' policies, tore up cobblestones to use as projectiles. Mayor Mel Lastman , the Toronto Police Services Board and the Toronto Police Association argued that the police response

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