Myth: People experiencing homelessness don’t want help or aren’t trying to improve their situation.
Fact: This myth oversimplifies a complex issue. Many people experiencing homelessness do seek help but face overwhelming barriers that make it difficult to move forward. Homelessness isn’t just about personal choices—it’s about access to stable housing, healthcare, and support systems. If you see someone struggling in our community, remember that homelessness is never just a choice. A little understanding, compassion, and kindness can make a difference, and there are many issues to consider, including:
- Barriers to Accessing Help: People may seem hesitant to accept support, but often, the real issue is that services aren’t accessible when they need them. Shelters may be full, waitlists for housing can take months, and many services aren’t available 24/7. Some people lose hope after encountering short-term solutions that don’t address their long-term needs.
- Lack of Affordable Housing: The biggest driver of homelessness isn’t a lack of motivation—it’s a lack of affordable housing. Even for those actively working toward stability, skyrocketing rent, housing shortages, and low vacancy rates make securing a place to live nearly impossible. Without stable housing, it becomes much harder to manage work, health, and family responsibilities.
- Mental Health and Trauma: Many people experiencing homelessness are also dealing with mental health challenges, addiction, or past trauma. These experiences can make it difficult to trust systems, ask for help, or navigate complex services. If someone you care about is in this situation, they may struggle in ways that aren’t always visible.
- The Complexity of Homelessness: Homelessness is rarely caused by a single issue. It can result from job loss, domestic violence, medical crises, or family breakdowns. The path to stability isn’t as simple as finding a shelter for a night—it requires access to legal support, medical care, job training, childcare, and long-term housing. Many people do their best to overcome these challenges with limited resources.
- Stigma and Discrimination: Negative stereotypes often prevent people from seeking help. Many individuals experiencing homelessness fear being judged, mistreated, or rejected, which makes them hesitant to reach out for support—even when they desperately need it. Showing compassion and understanding can make a huge difference in helping someone feel safe to accept help.
Why It Matters: Believing that homeless people aren’t “doing enough” is harmful because it shifts blame onto individuals rather than recognizing the real, systemic barriers they face. By challenging these misconceptions, we can create a more compassionate and supportive community that focuses on solutions like affordable housing, accessible services, and policies that address the root causes of homelessness.
How We Work: No one chooses homelessness. Most people want help, but the barriers they face are overwhelming. At Cedar Strong, we work to break down these barriers by providing access to safe housing, mental health support, and essential resources that give people the stability they need to move forward. Addressing homelessness means addressing the systemic gaps that keep people stuck.
More Information: Visit the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness to learn more about the social and economic factors influencing homelessness. If you’d like to volunteer or learn more about the work we do in the community, please call 604-869-5111.