The Canadian Homelessness Research Network (CHRN) defines homelessness in the following way:
"Homelessness describes the situation of an individual or family without stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it. It is the result of systemic and societal barriers, a lack of affordable and appropriate housing, the individual/household's financial, mental, cognitive, behavioural or physical challenges, and/or racism and discrimination. Most people do not choose to be homeless, and the experience is generally negative, unpleasant, stressful and distressing." (Gaetz, 2013)
Homelessness has many typologies. Below is the typology used by CHRN.
Unsheltered: living on the streets or in places not intended for human habitation
Emergency Sheltered: staying in overnight emergency shelters designed for people who are homeless
Provisionally Accommodated: people who are homeless whose accommodation is temporary or lacks security of tenure, including interim (or transitional) housing, people living temporarily with others (couch surfing), or living in institutional contexts (hospital, prison) without permanent housing arrangements.
At Risk of Homelessness: people who are not homeless, but whose current economic and/or housing situation is precarious or does not meet public health and safety standards.
Research from the Health and Housing in Transition Study (HHiT) demonstrates that people who are vulnerably housed face the same severe health problems as people who are homeless (in the above typology, unsheltered or emergency sheltered). (Research Alliance for Canadian Homelessness, Housing, and Health 2010)
"Homelessness describes the situation of an individual or family without stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it. It is the result of systemic and societal barriers, a lack of affordable and appropriate housing, the individual/household's financial, mental, cognitive, behavioural or physical challenges, and/or racism and discrimination. Most people do not choose to be homeless, and the experience is generally negative, unpleasant, stressful and distressing." (Gaetz, 2013)
Homelessness has many typologies. Below is the typology used by CHRN.
Unsheltered: living on the streets or in places not intended for human habitation
Emergency Sheltered: staying in overnight emergency shelters designed for people who are homeless
Provisionally Accommodated: people who are homeless whose accommodation is temporary or lacks security of tenure, including interim (or transitional) housing, people living temporarily with others (couch surfing), or living in institutional contexts (hospital, prison) without permanent housing arrangements.
At Risk of Homelessness: people who are not homeless, but whose current economic and/or housing situation is precarious or does not meet public health and safety standards.
Research from the Health and Housing in Transition Study (HHiT) demonstrates that people who are vulnerably housed face the same severe health problems as people who are homeless (in the above typology, unsheltered or emergency sheltered). (Research Alliance for Canadian Homelessness, Housing, and Health 2010)