Basic Needs
Are you currently able to take care of your basic needs like bathing, changing clothes, using a restroom, getting food and clean water and other things like that?
Research
“Basic needs include any resource deemed necessary for persons or households to achieve and maintain physical well-being (Collin & Campbell, 2008). Traditional lists of basic needs are composed of minimum requirements for the private consumption of items such as food, water and shelter. However, more recent lists have expanded to include essential services provided to the community as a whole (healthcare, education, transportation and sanitation). These more comprehensive lists have been developed to represent a more holistic picture of what is required to move beyond mere survival to well-being. Such lists consist of: food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, personal care items, essential furnishings, transportation, communication, laundry services, education, sanitation and insurance (Sarlo, 2006, The Homeless Hub).
Here is a list of different organizations that assist individuals experiencing homelessness to meet their basic needs (please note that not all may be listed):
7th Street Health Access, Helping Hands, Samaritan House Ministries, Safe and Warm Shelter, John Howard Society, Woman’s Resource Center, Brandon Friendship Centre, Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Cooperation, Ask Auntie, Blue Door Project, Food Rescue Store.
Data Source
All data is collected from the 2022 VI-SPDAT
Please note that all data is self-reported by individuals, which can result in underreporting of information.
What is the VI-SPDAT
The VI-SPDAT (Vulnerability Index – Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool) is a survey administered to individuals to determine risk and prioritization when providing assistance to homeless and at-risk of homelessness persons. Data presented here is drawn from VI-SPDAT adult version 2 (Canadian) surveys completed with 155 individuals experiencing homelessness and seeking housing placement assistance from homelessness serving agencies in Brandon in 2022. These surveys were conducted as part of Brandon’s homelessness Coordinated Access system.
Reference
“Basic Needs Archives.” HelpSeeker, helpseeker.org/manitoba/brandon/basic-needs/?locality=brandon&tags=41%2C40%2C100%2C186&skip=0&perPage=5&category=74. Accessed 8 Mar. 2023.
“Basic Needs | the Homeless Hub.” Www.homelesshub.ca, www.homelesshub.ca/povertyhub/basic-needs.
Basic Needs in the Sustainable Development Goals
Click on the SDG to reveal more information
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Extreme poverty rates have been cut by more than half since 1990. While this is a remarkable achievement, one in five people in developing regions still live on less than $1.90 a day, and there are millions more who make little more than this daily amount, plus many people risk slipping back into poverty.
Poverty is more than the lack of income and resources to ensure a sustainable livelihood. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making. Economic growth must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and promote equality.