Presentation given by Bayla Kolk, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development, Canada at a FEANTSA Conference on "Multiple Barriers, Multiple Solutions: Inclusion into and through Employment for People who are homeless ", Zaragoza, Spain, 2007

1. Homelessness and Employment:
A Canadian Perspective
Bayla Kolk, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Government of Canada
October 19, 2007

2. Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS)
 Goal of Canada’s HPS is to prevent and reduce homelessness and
includes three initiatives:
 Homelessness Partnership Initiative – addresses needs of
designated, outreach and Aboriginal communities;
 Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative –
makes surplus federal property and land available to communities
for projects to alleviate homelessness; and
 Homelessness Accountability Network – strengthens program
accountability, develops knowledge, and reinforces the
importance of community networks and sharing of best practices.
 The HPS is predicated on:
 Fostering partnerships to maximize outcomes
 Housing-first approach
 Community-based
 Targeted and accountable investments
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3. Diagnostique
Homeless persons in Canada can be categorized in two broad categories:
- Chronic homeless persons: This group faces multiple barriers
and needs ongoing care and support to stay off the streets.
- Situational homeless persons: Those who have faced serious
economic downturns or family instability, but nonetheless have
good prospects to overcome homelessness if given the proper supports.
Employment programming can be effective when targeted at this section of
the homeless population because in many instances lack of employment is
the single barrier preventing them from escaping homelessness.
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4. Barriers to Employment Faced by Homeless Individuals
Homeless people are often motivated to work and represent an
untapped source of labour but face multiple barriers preventing them
from achieving employment and escaping homelessness:
 Lack of a permanent and secure residence
 Physical and/or mental health issues
 Addiction issues
 Criminal involvement
 Lack of education and training
 Lack of transportation
 Irregular employment histories
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5. Labour Market Mobility
 Canadians often migrate from one part of the country to the other in
search of employment opportunities in booming economies -- similar
to citizens across EU nations.
 In most of the booming regions, the cost of accommodation is
proportional to economic growth, which makes it difficult for low-end
job holders to meet ends including housing needs. This results in a
class of “working homeless”.
 Immigrants tend to move to big cities to increase employment
opportunities, but most end up with jobs that do not adequately
compensate for their level of education and experience. They add to
the at-risk homeless population.
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6. Holistic Approach to Homelessness and Employment
 Research indicates that job training programs for homeless people
should include comprehensive assessments, holistic interventions
(access to health, social, educational programming) and ongoing case
management in order to be successful.
 A holistic range of services and supports entails cooperation and
coordination among social service agencies, employers, and
governments at different levels.
 Given the marginal and unstable employment that characterizes
employment for low-wage or homeless individuals, laws and
regulations are important to prevent exploitation.
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7. Best Practices in Canada
 Stella Burry Community Services in St. John’s, Newfoundland, is a
social service agency utilizing integrated programming to provide
education and employment services alongside counselling, supportive
housing and affordable housing assistance.
 In Toronto, Ontario, Eva's Phoenix works with business, labour and
community partners to provide housing for 50 youth for up to a full
year, as well as employment and pre-apprenticeship programs.
 Street Youth Job Action is an initiative that provides mentoring and
development opportunities for homeless youth in Vancouver,
British Columbia. The project gives youth an opportunity to learn a set
of skills and behaviours to prepare them for the workforce.
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8. Concluding Remarks
 Ending homelessness requires addressing multiple barriers and
closing the gap between incomes and housing costs – jobs that pay a
living wage are critical.
 HPS: working to fully integrate homelessness and employment into
the overall thematic structure of the Strategy, as a policy imperative,
so that meaningful employment can play an integral part in supporting
people in their move out of homelessness and into self-sufficiency.
 FEANTSA’s focus on homelessness and employment is helpful to
policy development in Canada.
 Lessons learned in addressing employment and homelessness in
Europe and Canada contribute to a shared body of knowledge that will
help strengthen responses.
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