As the first in a series of community-oriented presentations, hosted by Ritchie Men’s Shed, Damian Collins (University of Alberta) will provide some background on this worsening crisis in Canadian cities, including Edmonton. Damian has spoken about this issue on CBC radio and will address the following questions:
What is homelessness - how is it defined, and what different forms does it take?
How many people are homeless in Edmonton - how has this number changed over time, and what are some of the key characteristics of our city's homeless population?
What factors cause homelessness - what are underlying reasons for the crisis, and why do they make some people especially vulnerable?
How do men and women experience homelessness differently - why were men historically much more likely to live on the streets, and how has this changed over time?
Resources from the event
Ending homelessness in Edmonton: https://homewardtrust.ca/
Who is the Speaker? Damian Collins is a social scientist at the University of Alberta, and the Director of Community Housing Canada. Housing as a human right has been recognized in both international and domestic law, yet 1 in 8 Canadian households struggle to meet their shelter costs each month. When not researching and advocating for community housing, Damian also works on urban public spaces and transportation issues.