by Bernie Pauly, Geoff Cross
September 19, 2013
Facing homelessness is a reality in urban and rural centres across Canada. It is a reality for those experiencing it and for those who care deeply about ending it. Even if we don’t think homelessness is a concern, it affects our lives and points to the thinness of the fabric that holds us together as a society. We often confuse personal circumstances in which people find themselves homeless with the broader conditions in society in which anyone can become homeless. For example, many people often hold the view that substance use and mental illness are the root causes of homelessness but this kind of thinking doesn’t recognize the conditions in which many people become homeless.