Salvation Army Report Reveals Public Perceptions about the Nation’s Homeless

Salvation Army Report Reveals Public Perceptions about the Nation’s Homeless


Here's a link to the 12 page PDF file of the report

The Salvation Army is highlighting the issue of homelessness this month as part of its annual May Red Shield Campaign and the ongoing Dignity Project.

Key findings include:

• Approximately 40 percent of Canadians believe that most homeless people want to live on the street and in shelters.
• Almost 30 percent of Canadians believe that a good work ethic is all you need to escape homelessness.
• Nearly one-fifth of Canadians believe that individuals experiencing homelessness are always to blame for the situation they are in.
• 43 percent of Canadians never give money to a homeless person on the street.
• 40 percent believe that most homeless people are mentally ill.
• More than one-third of Canadians are scared of homeless people.

Also:

• Nearly all of the respondents believe that individuals experiencing homelessness deserve a sense of dignity.
• 93 percent agree that no one in Canada should be homeless.
• 86 percent of Canadians believe that housing is fundamental right for all Canadians.
• 75 percent acknowledge that once you become homeless it is exceptionally difficult to get into housing

“The people of Canada have spoken and revealed much about their attitudes and perceptions about the nation’s homeless,” said Commissioner William Francis, leader of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda. “We hope that through this report and the Dignity Project, we can continue to educate and inspire the public and work towards a Canada without homelessness.”