Posted On: October 24, 2026, Posted By: Debbie Schatia, NewmarketToday, Original Article.
When discussing how to support individuals experiencing homelessness, the conversation often focuses on meeting basic needs, such as providing a bed, a meal, or a safe place to stay.
However, meeting physical needs alone cannot address every aspect of homelessness. One often-overlooked challenge faced by individuals experiencing homelessness is the profound sense of isolation that can come with it.
Losing connections to family, community, and daily routines can create feelings of hopelessness, making it harder to ask for help or believe that a life beyond homelessness is possible.
In Canada, Indigenous people make up just five per cent of the population, yet account for more than one-third of those experiencing homelessness.
To understand why Indigenous people are disproportionately affected, it’s important to look beyond the absence of housing and consider the connections, relationships, and sense of belonging that can be lost along with it.
Understanding Indigenous Homelessness in Canada
For many individuals, family and community serve as an important safety net. For example, if someone loses their job and can no longer afford rent, family or friends may offer a temporary place to stay and the support needed to get back on their feet.
However, the lasting effects of residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and other colonial practices have disrupted family relationships and communities for many Indigenous people, weakening the support systems that others may rely on during difficult times.
Shane Pelletier, executive director of the National Indigenous Homelessness Council, has experienced homelessness firsthand as an Indigenous Canadian. After leaving home at 15 because of domestic violence, he moved to an urban centre, where he had to navigate an unfamiliar environment largely on his own. Finding housing and learning to access unfamiliar services became challenges he faced without a strong support system, contributing to years of homelessness.
His story challenges the misconception that homelessness is a choice.
For Shane, it was not as simple as choosing not to work or refusing available services. Rather, he described a persistent feeling of hopelessness throughout his experience. Without a strong support system, it became increasingly difficult to believe his circumstances could change, making it harder to find a lasting path out of homelessness.
The Canadian Definition of Indigenous Homelessness helps put into words the experiences of Shane and many other Indigenous people across Canada. It recognizes that homelessness often involves disconnection from family, community, culture, and identity, rather than simply the absence of physical housing.
When someone has already lost connections to family and community, entering a support system that does not reflect their culture can deepen that sense of isolation and leave important needs unaddressed.
As Shane explained, services were available to him, but they often focused on providing housing without addressing the isolation and hopelessness he was experiencing. Housing is essential, but when support does not align with an individual’s needs and culture, they may be less likely to access those services consistently or benefit from the long-term support they are intended to provide.
Given the disproportionate number of Indigenous people experiencing homelessness, addressing this gap requires greater access to Indigenous-led services. Services centred on community, culture, and lived experience can respond to needs that extend beyond housing alone.
By providing support that reflects people’s experiences, cultures, and connections to community, these services can help rebuild a sense of belonging, restore hope, and create more sustainable pathways out of homelessness.