EXPLORING EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS RESPONSES TO HOMELESSNESS

SYSTEMS PLANNING FOR TARGETED GROUPS
FIGURE 3 The vicious cycles underlying women’s homelessness in the North
Long wait lists
for mental
health services
Anger,
depression,
PTSD, anxiety,
negative
self image
Intergenerational
impacts of
residential
schooling
Anger about
structural
injustice
UNRESOLVED
TRAUMA
Negative social
response
Low paying jobs
with little security
and no benefits
FASD, physical
disabilities and
health issues
History of abusive
relationships
Substance abuse
(self medication)
Medication
instead of
trauma-informed
Behavious leading to services
loss of housing,
involvement with
the courts and
apprehension
of children
Service provider
attitudes and
actions
Long waiting
lists and
restrictions on
which services can
be accessed
Low levels of
education and
literacy
POVERTY
AND SOCIAL
EXCLUSION
Inadequate levels
of Social
Assistance
VICIOUS CYCLES
Fragmented
services that force
women to juggle
many service points
INEFFECTIVE
SERVICES
Lack of
outreach, after
hours and follow
up services
Racism
discrimination,
stigmatization and
marginalization
Global economic
conditions that
protect the rich
Lack of
supportive
housing
Emergency
housing
Lack of womencentered
services
Lack of trauma
informed
services
Lack of
culturally
safe services
Absolute shortage
of housing
INABILITY TO
FIND AND
MAINTAIN
HOUSING
Difficulties with
rental arrears and
damage deposits
Impacts of
homelessness
Couch surfing
The four “vicious cycles” that conspire to trap women in
homelessness and poor mental health can be visualized as a
complex, interacting dynamic as pictured in Figure 3 (above).
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