COH-AWH-What_Would_it_Take

1.5 HARMFUL SOCIETAL
BELIEFS & VALUES
According to many young
people, the perpetuation of
homelessness in Canada is
linked to widely held beliefs
and values about poverty and
the welfare state.
Several youth expressed that it is difficult to
end youth homelessness in Canada because
the public often blames youth for their poverty,
views homelessness as a personal choice, and
believes in stereotypes about people who are
homeless (e.g., all people who are homeless are
lazy). Several youth felt that these views make
it difficult to implement the policy and system
changes needed to prevent homelessness.
Youth also discussed how homelessness in Canada is influenced by public perceptions of the
welfare state and social programs. Many youth felt that at a values level, Canadian society
prioritizes profits over the needs of those who are marginalized. Several youth expressed that
major shifts in Canadian society’s values and beliefs are needed in order to enact the political
change that can prevent youth homelessness, and that public education is required to do this.
“The way that they look at you when you walk past, they way that they treat you and the
way that they make you feel – there’s such a stigma of being homeless. You can’t go into
certain stores if you have a backpack. Well, where the heck are they supposed to put
it? That’s their house. Where else are they supposed to go? They can’t go into certain
libraries or washrooms … And there were places that they couldn’t go because they
weren’t trusted, because there’s a stigma on homeless people. Well, maybe if we remove
the stigma and allow them to … feel like it’s safe, regardless if there are getting beaten up
and getting pissed on in the middle of the night, they want to feel safe somewhere.”
CALGARY YOUTH
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? 59