Income
Do you get any money from the government, a pension, an inheritance, working under the table, a regular job, or anything like that?
Research
“Not having a home means that people experiencing homelessness may not have an address to put on a resume, a phone number for job call backs, and a safe space to prepare for job interviews. It also means not having the opportunity to recover from a day’s work in a safe environment where they can shower, get a good night of sleep, prepare their own food (including food to take to work), recover from illness or injury, rest, and maintain their health (The Homeless Hub).”
“Participants in a research study reported the shame and embarrassment they felt when providing a shelter’s address to a potential employer or having to explain why they didn’t have ID or a bank account. Many decide not to disclose their homelessness status in fear of being automatically disqualified as a suitable candidate (The Homeless Hub).”
Other barriers to employment among those experiencing homelessness include (The Homeless Hub):
- Low educational attainment
- Physical disability
- Mental health and substance use
- Criminal record
- Limited access to transportation
- Lack of experience in the field of interest
- Lack of vocational training
- Lack of computer access in addition to low levels of computer literacy required to perform job searches and fill out online applications.
“Even when a person experiencing homelessness is able to find employment, it is often on the margins of the economy. Many are forced to work in unsafe and unregulated jobs and/or are paid under the table where the pay may be inconsistent and/or lower than average wages. Temporary work has also been described as a barrier to meaningful and permanent employment as it hinders relationship building with employers while interfering with long-term planning.. Precarious work not only foregoes benefits or a living wage but may also lead to vulnerable workers being exploited as cheap labour (The Homeless Hub).”
Data Source
All information and data provided is from the VI-SPDAT.
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
Homeless Hub. (2019). Employment | The Homeless Hub. Homelesshub.ca. https://www.homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/education-training-employment/employment
Income 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.