Mental health haunts the streets in Canada.

Approximately 86% of homeless individuals suffer from either substance addiction or serious mental health issues. For homeless women in Canada the numbers tell a shocking story. 84.5% of homeless women in Canada are reported to suffer from at least 1 debilitating mental illness. 33% have difficulty with mobility, a lost limb or some other serious physical handicap.

Absolute homelessness is assigned to women who sleep in shelter and in conditions deemed unfit for habitation.

Whilst it is estimated that approximately 3% of women have experienced some form of sexual abuse the numbers climb to 30% in the homeless population. Homeless women between the ages of 18-44 are 10 times more likely to die than those in the general populous. The death rate for this age range in Toronto is a third higher than that of Boston. It is important to remember Canada has universal health care.

60% of homeless women will attempt suicide in their lifetime. 30% of the entire population attempted it in the past year.

The increased prevalence of mental illness among the homeless has been linked to deinstitutionalization (Bachrach, 1984). The last 40 years have witnessed a dramatic change in the delivery of services to individuals with mental illness. The Canadian mental health system has shifted from a centralized, hospital-based model to a decentralized, community-based model (Wasylenki, Goering, & Macnaughton 1992). Since 1960, the number of available psychiatric beds in the Greater Toronto Area has fallen by 80% (City of Toronto, 1999). At the same time, it has been suggested that there are insufficient psychiatric and medical services and programs available in the community, particularly for individuals with severe and chronic mental illness (City of Toronto, 1999). These individuals, who are often socially isolated and reliant on social assistance, are at an increased risk of becoming homeless.

Violence against women is intricately related to homelessness among women.

Domestic violence was reported by 27% of women in the Toronto shelter system as the primary reason for their homelessness.

Homelessness in Canada has shown a dramatic increase since the late 90s

There is an urgent need for new and innovative strategies that will address the barriers to health care that homeless women face. Identifying and evaluating promising models and practices in service integration and coordination for women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness is one approach that might be used to improve access. Sadly the current government seems intent on decentralizing health care in Canada, shifting responsibility to the community despite suggestions that there are serious deficiencies at this level.