Homeless Count Tables - City of Prince George

Prince George Homeless Count Report 2010
3.7 Defining Homelessness
Homeless Count respondents were asked to self-identify with either of two definitions of homelessness,
or, if they felt both definitions to be unsuitable, to provide their own definition of homelessness.
Definition A:
Absolute Homelessness – is a situation where an individual or family has no housing at all or is staying in
a temporary form of shelter or in locations not fit for people to live in.
Definition B:
Relative Homelessness – is a situation where people have a home but are at risk of becoming homeless:
this includes those that are living in places that are unsafe, inadequate or too expensive; and people
who for different reasons are not able to, or don’t feel comfortable, living on their own in typical
housing.
In response to this question, 88 respondents (26.8%) felt that they fit the definition of homelessness
represented by Definition A; 28 respondents (39.0) felt that they fit the definition of homelessness
represented by Definition B; and 50 respondents (15.2%) answered with “No”. 55 respondents (16.8%)
answered with “Don’t know” and 7 responses (1.9%) were coded as invalid. Table 15 provides a
summarized overview of the responses.
Table 15 Definition of Homelessness
Definition of Homelessness
# of respondents
(n = 328) %
Definition A 88 26.8
Definition B 128 39.0
No (don’t fit either definition) 50 15.2
Don’t Know 55 16.8
Invalid response 7 2.2
Total 328 100.0
The survey questionnaire provided an opportunity for those respondents who felt that neither definition
of homelessness (Definition A or B) applied to them to provide their own definition of homelessness.
The purpose of this question was to gain insights to the meaning of homelessness to homeless
individuals in Prince George. Sixty-two (62) respondents provided an individual definition of
homelessness in response to this question. A qualitative thematic analysis resulted in six major themes
describing homelessness (Table 16). The three major themes identified were:
Not having a place to live or no home (i.e., affordable housing, living in shelters) – 27 responses
(44.3%);
Living a hard life/a hopeless life/being lost – 15 responses (24.6%); and
Living life on the street/ street lifestyle – 8 responses (13.1%).
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