Rural vs Urban Homelessness

Defining Homeless Spaces:

Between the 1950s and 1970s, homeless individuals were thought to occupy “specific geographic spaces of the city” (Greene, 2015). To this day, homelessness is associated with urbanization: pegged as a causal effect of metropolitan gentrification. 

But what if homelessness happened elsewhere?

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, the likelihood of being poor is 2.3 times higher in rural areas than urban centres. This level of poverty - combined with a lack of affordable housing - leads to an influx of homelessness in smaller towns (NCH, 2007). Yet despite such prevalence, rural homelessness is a low priority for government funding. 

Rural Homelessness:

Why is rural homelessness allocated less social infrastructure? The reasoning is complex, but a major contributing factor is a lack of visibility.  

In a homeless report from Wellington County, Ontario, interviewees were reluctant to state their housing status. Such secrecy is caused by a lack of privacy in smaller towns. Particularly, in tight-knit community spaces where economic standing is publicly stigmatized. Those that are homeless and are known to be homeless, are also less likely to be considered desirable candidates for renting: further perpetuating the crisis.

To avoid being seen, homeless persons rely on friends and family for shelter. In many cases, these informal measures are a better alternative to living in open parks or cars. But in some scenarios, “couch surfing” can be unsafe if vulnerable women or children become reliant on abusive social networks (Taylor, 2018).   

Urban Homelessness:

As government allocations are population-based, homeless persons migrate to cities for shelter and resources. The overflow of people is problematic however, as services are stretched thin, individuals are separated from their support systems, and new risks are presented.

One of the worst risks is spreading sickness in shelters. Residents living in these confined spaces, struggle to social distance and practice hygiene: making them vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 is a life-threatening issue if health care providers are overwhelmed. 

The migration of homeless persons to metropolitan centres therefore leads to more expensive interventions. Such displacement also negatively affects rural economies (Hodwitz, 2022).  

 What Can be Done?

When thinking about homelessness, rural areas should be considered as more of a problem. According to The National Alliance to End Rural and Remote Homelessness, only $11 million is annually given to fund homeless services in smaller towns. If $50 million could be provided, rural outreach programs would be good enough to cut down on problematic urban migration (NAERRH, 2021). Before this funding can happen however, discussions about rural homelessness need to be less stigmatized and more known.

Works Cited

Greene, J. (2015, May). Urban Restructuring, Homelessness, and Collective Action in Toronto, 1980 - 2003. Erudit. https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/uhr/2014-v43-n1-uhr01893/1030805ar/

Taylor, M. (2018, July). How is Rural Homelessness Different then Urban Homelessness? Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. https://www.homelesshub.ca/blog/how-rural-homelessness-different-urban-homelessness

National Coalition for the Homeless (2007, August). Rural Homelessness. National Coalition for the Homeless. https://nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/rural.html

Hodwitz, K. (2022, July). Challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness and their providers during the COVID 19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study. CMAJ Group. https://www.cmajopen.ca/content/10/3/E685

NAERRH. (2021, January). Rural and Remote Homelessness. National Alliance to End Rural and Remote Homelessness. https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/432/HUMA/Brief/BR11103191/br-external/NationalAllianceToEndRuralAndRemoteHomelessness-e.pdf