Aboriginals, youth overrepresented in York Region homeless population – YorkRegion.com
About 12 per cent of York Region’s homeless are Aboriginal residents, although they make up less than 1 per cent of the population, according to a new report.
“Aboriginal peoples are over-represented in homeless populations across the country and, as the data suggests, this is the case in York Region as well,” according to the report, Understanding the Numbers: Working Together to Prevent, Reduce and End Homelessness in York Region, a joint document from York Region and the United Way of Toronto and York Region.
“Research has shown that many personal issues facing Aboriginal peoples experiencing homelessness can be linked to various types of historical traumas.”
In addition to challenges experienced by the general homeless population, such as limited education and unemployment, First Nations residents may also face struggles such as transitions from reserves to urban living, systemic racism and landlord discrimination, the report said.
