12 research outputs found
Homelessness among older people: Assessing strategies and frameworks across Canada
Homelessness among older people is expected to rise as a result of unmet need and demographic change. Yet, strategies and responses to homelessness across Canada tend to focus on younger groups, overlooking the circumstances and needs of older people (i.e., age 50+). This article reports the results of a content analysis of government planning documents on homelessness conducted in 2014. A total of 42 local, provincial, and federal strategies were reviewed to assess the extent to which they recognized and targeted the needs of older people. Our review resulted in three categories of documents: 1) documents with no discussion of homelessness among older people (n=16; 38%); 2) documents with a minimal discussion of homelessness among older people (n=22; 55%); and 3) documents with a significant discussion of homelessness among older people (n=4; 7%). Results indicate that while many strategies are beginning to consider older people as a subgroup with unique needs, little action has been taken to develop comprehensive services and supports for this group. We conclude with a call to integrate the needs of diverse groups of older people into strategies to end homelessness and to develop programs and responses that are suitable for older people. LâitinĂ©rance parmi les personnes ĂągĂ©es: Ăvaluations des stratĂ©gies et des structures Ă travers le Canada RĂ©sumĂ©Il est prĂ©vu que lâitinĂ©rance chez les personnes ĂągĂ©es augmentera au cours des prochaines annĂ©es, en raison des changements dĂ©mographiques et des besoins non comblĂ©s que lâon observe actuellement. MalgrĂ© cela, les stratĂ©gies et les rĂ©ponses Ă lâitinĂ©rance au Canada tendent Ă ĂȘtre centrĂ©es sur les populations plus jeunes, ignorant les besoins et rĂ©alitĂ©s des personnes ĂągĂ©es. Cet article prĂ©sente les rĂ©sultats dâune analyse de contenu des stratĂ©gies canadiennes sur lâitinĂ©rance effectuĂ©e en 2014. 42 stratĂ©gies ont Ă©tĂ© recensĂ©es afin dâĂ©valuer dans quelle mesure elles reconnaissaient et ciblaient les besoins des personnes ĂągĂ©es. Notre analyse regroupe en trois catĂ©gories les documents recensĂ©s : 1) les documents qui nâabordent pas lâitinĂ©rance chez les personnes ĂągĂ©es (n=16; 38 pour cent); 2) les documents  abordent trĂšs briĂšvement lâitinĂ©rance des personnes ĂągĂ©es (n=22; 55 pour cent); 3) les documents abordant de façon substantielle lâitinĂ©rance des personnes ĂągĂ©es (n=4; 7 pour cent). Les rĂ©sultats indiquent que bien que plusieurs stratĂ©gies commencent Ă prendre en considĂ©ration le fait que les personnes ĂągĂ©es constituent un sous-groupe qui prĂ©sente des besoins particuliers, peu dâactions ont Ă©tĂ© entreprises afin de  dĂ©velopper des services et un soutien adaptĂ©s Ă leur rĂ©alitĂ©. Nous concluons en rappelant lâimportance dâintĂ©grer les besoins de diffĂ©rents groupes de personnes ĂągĂ©es aux stratĂ©gies qui visent Ă mettre fin Ă Â lâitinĂ©rance et de dĂ©velopper des programmes et rĂ©ponses qui sont adaptĂ©es Ă une population ĂągĂ©e. Mots Clefs : politique; pratique; vieillissement; exclusion sociale; pauvretĂ©; logemen