Why are people homeless?
Everyone who is homeless has their own story. Each of the stories is usually linked to one or more of the following: • They don’t have enough income • They can’t find affordable housing • They don’t have access to health or social support services Not having enough income means that a person does not have enough money to pay for the basic necessities of life. The 2005 Greater Vancouver homeless count found that less than half the people surveyed had a predictable source of income. Welfare payments and other government income assistance help some people pay for housing costs, but the maximum housing allowance available to a single person on welfare is $375/month. Affordable housing means housing that costs a reasonable amount compared to a person’s income. In the Greater Vancouver area, the average rent for a one bedroom apartment is just over $800 per month. This amounts to half of what a person working 40 hours a week at $10/hr earns before any taxes or deductions. A good measure of a
