top of page
Search

What Came First: Homelessness or Addiction?

  • Anaisha Jain
  • Nov 5, 2023
  • 4 min read

Source: Business Insider: India Source: Discovery Recovery


There is a certain taboo that revolves around homeless people, some call them poor, rejected from their families, or even lazy. However, the biggest stigma that acts as a barricade for homeless people is ‘Addiction’. This accusation alone, restricts homeless people from getting help and community support. Due to this, an important question arises: Homelessness or addiction, which came first?


Although substance use is disproportionately common among persons suffering homelessness, substance use alone cannot explain homelessness. “The National Coalition for the Homeless has found that 38% of homeless people are alcohol dependent, and 26% are dependent on other harmful chemicals” (Murray, Krystina). This shows that substances constitute a few portions of the homeless people that inhabit Canada.


The connection between homelessness and addiction is not by chance, but rather the outcome of an endless loop. Many people living with addiction face an increased risk of homelessness as a result of circumstances such as job loss, estrangement from family and friends, and financial instability, which is typically exacerbated by the high expense of substance use. Homelessness, on the other hand, can contribute to or worsen addiction because people may resort to drugs or alcohol as a coping strategy for the harsh reality of living on the streets. This interaction between addiction and homelessness creates a difficult to break loop.


There are several factors that lead to the loop that is homelessness and addiction: relief from pain, loneliness, trauma, challenging emotions, or the desire to feel good. Majority of homeless people have significant experiences of trauma, the following factors are the major causes of the link between homelessness and addiction:

  1. Economic vulnerability: This is one of the key factors leading to the cycle of homelessness and addiction. Substance misuse may lead to unemployment and financial insecurity, making it difficult for people to keep stable housing. Homelessness, on the other hand, can expose people to unsafe surroundings and social circles that encourage substance usage.

  2. Lack of access to treatment: Access to addiction treatment options is frequently restricted and unevenly dispersed, across Canada. Due to their nomadic lives and absence of personal identity documents, those suffering homelessness frequently confront extra challenges to treatment. This lack of therapeutic access maintains their addiction and makes it difficult to stop the pattern.

  3. Mental Health Issues: A considerable number of homeless people suffer from mental health problems, exacerbating the interaction between homelessness and addiction. Self-medication with drugs or alcohol is a frequent coping method for those suffering from untreated mental health issues, which can develop into addiction.

  4. Stigmatization and Discrimination: In Canadian society, stigmatization and discrimination against those who are homeless or battling with addiction are widespread. People may get more ingrained in the cycle of addiction and homelessness as a result of these unfavourable views, which can also cause social isolation and a lack of support.

  5. Colonialism: There is an overrepresentation of indigenous peoples among the homeless. In Calgary, 41% of those who are homeless on any given night are of Indigenous heritage. Indigenous people are more likely to become homeless as a result of intergenerational trauma, a loss of connection to community, and the mass removal of thousands of Indigenous children from their families during The 60s Scoop, among other colonial policies and practises in Canada.


Although there are in-numerous factors that contribute to addiction and homelessness, we as a society and nation should strive to aid and protect those struggling with homelessness and addiction. The Housing First strategy is an important Canadian project which aims to help homeless people. This approach places a high priority on giving those who are homeless stable housing because it is believed that housing is a basic human right. People are in a better position to deal with their addiction problems, enhance their mental health, and get the support resources they require when they have a safe place to live. Moreover, there are numerous initiatives springing up as there is an awareness growing around the topic of homeless people and addiction.


At the end of the day, some people become homeless due to their addiction, and others become addicted after becoming homeless. The question, ‘what came first: Homelessness or Addiction?’, truly differs from person to person. Nonetheless, this all dissipates when coming to aid those in need of treatment. To quote Terrence Lester, “Escaping poverty among the physical barriers is difficult , but with the added emotional toll, it’s almost impossible. It’s not as simple as we’d like to think.”






Citations:



Murray, Krystina. October 30, 2023.The Connection Between Homelessness And Addiction. AddictionCenter. https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/homelessness/


Quayum, Sajidul, et al. 21st April 2022. Report on addiction, substance use and homelessness. Infrastructure Canada. https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/homelessness-sans-abri/reports-rapports/addiction-toxicomanie-eng.html


Press, Jordan. March 16, 2016. Addiction is a top cause of homelessness across Canada, but not always No. 1. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/2579594/addiction-a-top-causes-of-homelessness-across-canada-but-not-always-no-1/




Distasio, Jino. October 21st, 2019. Tools to end homelessness in Canadian communities. CityNews Everywhere. https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2019/10/21/tools-to-end-homelessness-in-canadian-communities-1755441/

  • Website
  • Instagram
  • TikTok

© 2023 by Finer Future Foundation. Powered and secured by Wix

bottom of page