1
Understanding Homelessness in Canada: A Qualitative Analysis of Trauma, Systemic
Barriers, and Resilience
Research Topic
The research explores what it is like to be homeless in Canada using qualitative material
from CBC’s Generation Homeless series. Using stories from those in Toronto, the study looks at
trauma, addiction, mental health hardships, systemic disappointments and resilience among
people who do not have a home. The research shows how barriers to housing and individual
problems team up and it also shows the strength and coping skills of those insecurely housed.
Introduction
About 235,000 people in Canada become or are already experiencing homelessness each
year (Smith and Kopec, 2023). Though statistics show how many people are homeless, research
that looks at their experiences better explains how trauma, loss, addiction, and social issues cause
many to become homeless again. People experiencing homelessness share their personal
experiences, which make it clear that background hardships and systemic weaknesses have a
much bigger impact on having a stable roof than personal mistakes.
It uses interviews from The Generation Homeless series to explain the problems
experienced by unhoused people in Toronto. Using the lens of critical social work, this research
looks at these narratives to:
1. Explore how trauma, grief, and systemic barriers contribute to homelessness
, 2
2. Assess gaps in social services and institutional responses to homelessness
3. Highlight personal resilience and unmet needs among homeless populations
4. Examine the intersectional nature of homelessness, particularly for Indigenous peoples,
LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with histories of foster care involvement
The significance of this research lies in its potential to inform more effective, trauma-
informed policies and interventions that address the root causes of homelessness rather than
merely managing its symptoms. The study challenges dominant narratives and contributes to a
more compassionate, evidence-based understanding of homelessness in the Canadian context by
centering the voices of those with lived experience.
Research Questions
Guided by principles of critical qualitative inquiry, this study addresses the following research
questions:
1. How do individuals experiencing homelessness describe the role of trauma, loss, and
systemic neglect in their displacement and current circumstances?
2. What structural and institutional barriers prevent unhoused individuals from accessing
stable housing, meaningful employment, and adequate mental health support?
3. How do personal narratives reveal failures in existing social services, and what
alternative solutions or approaches do participants themselves propose?
4. In what ways do intersecting identities (such as Indigeneity, LGBTQ+ status, or foster
care experience) compound experiences of homelessness?
5. How do participants demonstrate resilience and agency despite their challenging
circumstances?
, 3
These questions were developed through an iterative process that combined preliminary
analysis of the documentary data with review of existing literature on homelessness in Canada.
They reflect the study's commitment to both understanding systemic issues and honoring
individual experiences.
Literature Review
Trauma and Homelessness
Extensive research has established the strong link between trauma and homelessness,
with studies showing that up to 90% of homeless individuals have experienced significant
trauma (Milaney et al., 2010). Statistics show that 35,00 to 40,000 youth experience
homelessness in Canada every night (CBC, 2022). This trauma often begins in childhood, with
many unhoused individuals reporting histories of physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or family
violence (Ajeen et al., 2023). The concept of complex trauma is particularly relevant, as it
captures how repeated, prolonged adversities - especially during developmental years - can
fundamentally disrupt an individual's ability to form stable relationships, maintain employment,
or secure housing.
For Indigenous populations, the trauma of colonialism and residential schools creates
intergenerational cycles of displacement and poverty (Alberton et al., 2020). As Adrianna Kylie's
narrative reveals, the loss of language, culture, and family connections compounds the
challenges of homelessness. Similarly, LGBTQ+ youth are dramatically overrepresented in
homeless populations, with many reporting family rejections as the immediate cause of their
homelessness (Kia et al., 2021). Evidence of such type of homelessness is presented by Finn’s
narrative.
Addiction and Mental Health
Understanding Homelessness in Canada: A Qualitative Analysis of Trauma, Systemic
Barriers, and Resilience
Research Topic
The research explores what it is like to be homeless in Canada using qualitative material
from CBC’s Generation Homeless series. Using stories from those in Toronto, the study looks at
trauma, addiction, mental health hardships, systemic disappointments and resilience among
people who do not have a home. The research shows how barriers to housing and individual
problems team up and it also shows the strength and coping skills of those insecurely housed.
Introduction
About 235,000 people in Canada become or are already experiencing homelessness each
year (Smith and Kopec, 2023). Though statistics show how many people are homeless, research
that looks at their experiences better explains how trauma, loss, addiction, and social issues cause
many to become homeless again. People experiencing homelessness share their personal
experiences, which make it clear that background hardships and systemic weaknesses have a
much bigger impact on having a stable roof than personal mistakes.
It uses interviews from The Generation Homeless series to explain the problems
experienced by unhoused people in Toronto. Using the lens of critical social work, this research
looks at these narratives to:
1. Explore how trauma, grief, and systemic barriers contribute to homelessness
, 2
2. Assess gaps in social services and institutional responses to homelessness
3. Highlight personal resilience and unmet needs among homeless populations
4. Examine the intersectional nature of homelessness, particularly for Indigenous peoples,
LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with histories of foster care involvement
The significance of this research lies in its potential to inform more effective, trauma-
informed policies and interventions that address the root causes of homelessness rather than
merely managing its symptoms. The study challenges dominant narratives and contributes to a
more compassionate, evidence-based understanding of homelessness in the Canadian context by
centering the voices of those with lived experience.
Research Questions
Guided by principles of critical qualitative inquiry, this study addresses the following research
questions:
1. How do individuals experiencing homelessness describe the role of trauma, loss, and
systemic neglect in their displacement and current circumstances?
2. What structural and institutional barriers prevent unhoused individuals from accessing
stable housing, meaningful employment, and adequate mental health support?
3. How do personal narratives reveal failures in existing social services, and what
alternative solutions or approaches do participants themselves propose?
4. In what ways do intersecting identities (such as Indigeneity, LGBTQ+ status, or foster
care experience) compound experiences of homelessness?
5. How do participants demonstrate resilience and agency despite their challenging
circumstances?
, 3
These questions were developed through an iterative process that combined preliminary
analysis of the documentary data with review of existing literature on homelessness in Canada.
They reflect the study's commitment to both understanding systemic issues and honoring
individual experiences.
Literature Review
Trauma and Homelessness
Extensive research has established the strong link between trauma and homelessness,
with studies showing that up to 90% of homeless individuals have experienced significant
trauma (Milaney et al., 2010). Statistics show that 35,00 to 40,000 youth experience
homelessness in Canada every night (CBC, 2022). This trauma often begins in childhood, with
many unhoused individuals reporting histories of physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or family
violence (Ajeen et al., 2023). The concept of complex trauma is particularly relevant, as it
captures how repeated, prolonged adversities - especially during developmental years - can
fundamentally disrupt an individual's ability to form stable relationships, maintain employment,
or secure housing.
For Indigenous populations, the trauma of colonialism and residential schools creates
intergenerational cycles of displacement and poverty (Alberton et al., 2020). As Adrianna Kylie's
narrative reveals, the loss of language, culture, and family connections compounds the
challenges of homelessness. Similarly, LGBTQ+ youth are dramatically overrepresented in
homeless populations, with many reporting family rejections as the immediate cause of their
homelessness (Kia et al., 2021). Evidence of such type of homelessness is presented by Finn’s
narrative.
Addiction and Mental Health
