Volume 6, numéro 1, 2026

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This article explores the dynamics of socio-spatial exclusion in Toronto, focusing on public libraries as critical safe spaces for people experiencing homelessness and those that are precariously housed. Employing a framework of ‘havens’ and ‘hazards,’ we illustrate the ways in which urban environments communicate attitudes towards homelessness, influencing how vulnerable populations navigate these spaces. We argue that exclusionary measures (hazards) guide vulnerable populations to seek refuge in Toronto libraries, one of the few remaining urban public spaces offering free access, services, and respite (havens). This phenomenon is exaggerated by a lack of haven locations across Toronto and an increase in hazards in our case study area which we depict cartographically and photographically. Anchoring our case study at the Toronto Public Library's (TPL) Spadina Road Branch, we illustrate how branches offer services beyond traditional library functions in assisting vulnerable patrons. Branch staff and TPL management are actively engaged in community outreach, providing tailored programs and bridging service gaps through referrals and partnerships with social organizations. Key initiatives include establishing a TPL system-wide social worker, a mobile trauma-informed crisis and de-escalation team, as well as compassionate staff accommodating the unique needs of vulnerable patrons. However, the study exposes a discrepancy between TPL’s intended trauma-informed safety policies regarding security guards and law enforcement. Regressive securitization tactics undermine the library as a haven, thereby impacting the efficacy of its broader safety and inclusion framework. We advocate for a reassessment of library security measures and broader integration of social services in library branches to enhance the safety for all community members.

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Youth with a disability are overrepresented among homeless youth and face unique vulnerabilities both in the youth shelter system and when housed. This article shares findings from a study of youth in three sites in southern Ontario, Canada, who identify with a disability and who have experienced homelessness. These findings demonstrate that being housed does not reduce financial vulnerability, social vulnerability, or the vulnerability that comes with negotiating the regulations and rules of landlord/tenant relationships. In order to address the systems disjunctures faced by the youth in our study, we argue for systems integration that focuses beyond homelessness and fairly distributes the burden for integration across a range of services that are currently inaccessible for youth with a disability who are homeless.

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When addressing homelessness, often the last group to be included as participants in the process are those experiencing homelessness. Without understanding the perspective of those with lived experience and including them in the change process, it is unlikely that meaningful outcomes will be achieved. To better understand the inclusion and perspective of those with lived experience regarding community-based homelessness alleviation efforts, we conducted a phenomenological study focusing solely on those experiencing homelessness. The eight participants engaged in semi-structured interviews that revealed similarities and differences to extant research on efforts to address homelessness. Our results provide insight into how including lived experience may benefit community-based homelessness efforts.

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Provision of housing is well established as an important first step in assisting people who are homeless, preferably with additional service support and protected work. Cost and the high population of people experiencing homelessness complicates this level of resource provision in low- and middle-income countries including South Africa. ‘Streetscapes’ established a pilot housing programme at the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown for people experiencing homelessness. Residents also engaged in the income support programme and received supplementary services. The residents set the rules for the house, made key decisions and shared duties in the house. A partial harm reduction approach was applied, in which residents could not use substances inside the house. Evaluation tools included nine in-depth interviews with residents and staff, organizational documentation and a monthly satisfaction survey. The first six months were characterised by conflict resulting from the COVID-19 lockdowns, but once these restrictions were lifted some residents left and the remainder established order in the house. The changes in the house allowed for the development of personal responsibility and of caring responses for each other. This greater control provided a context for the residents to develop themselves, come to terms with negative habits and to collect resources for their lives off the streets. Using people who had previously experienced homelessness as supervisors facilitated care and development.

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People with disabilities experience barriers to safe, secure, and affordable housing and a heightened vulnerability to homelessness. This paper presents results of research using nationwide administrative data on the number of entries and length of stays in Emergency Housing for people with disabilities, compared to the general population. People can apply for Emergency Housing when they have nowhere else to stay. It is intended for short-term stays of seven days and is considered a form of homelessness in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Our results indicate that people with disabilities have stayed in Emergency Housing 6.2% more times, and for 2.6 days longer than the general population, on average. These results evidence that people with disabilities are significantly more likely to experience homelessness and face significant barriers to exiting homelessness. In conclusion, the housing system in Aotearoa NZ is disabling. People with disabilities are not currently adequately supported by the housing support structures that exist, and changes are needed, especially given the projected increase in need due to population ageing.

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This paper asks how people experiencing homelessness and who are unsheltered manage the risks posed by insect-borne illnesses. Concerns over such risks have increased with recognition that climate change is expanding the range of many insect vectors for serious illnesses. In response to this threat, many cities – including Cambridge, Massachusetts (MA), where this study was conducted – have started to take efforts to protect the public. Nonetheless, these have often paid limited attention to the unsheltered. Drawing on interviews with 85 unsheltered residents this paper examines how these individuals understand and respond to insect-borne illness risks. The results show interviewees hold diverse views, with many having some awareness of such risks and taking a variety of steps to manage their exposure. In the absence of regular access to insect repellent many interviewees opt for a variety of alternative approaches, likely varying in effectiveness, to prevent and respond to insect bites. Some interviewees, however, are either unaware of their risks or unable to take steps to protect themselves. The results provide insights for city officials, advocates for the unsheltered, and planners as they try to protect highly vulnerable groups in the face of increasing climate-driven risk from insect-borne illnesses.

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Internationally, refugees face financial stress and housing precarity that are worsening due to housing crises and higher levels of displacement. In 2023 to 2024, this study used mixed methods to examine a rapid rehousing program for resettled refugees in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada that supports refugees to access scattered site housing in private market rentals with portable rent subsidies. The study objectives were: 1) To determine program strengths and barriers to program implementation; and 2) To evaluate the outcomes of the program for clients. The researchers used an exploratory-sequential mixed methods design that included analysis of program data, semi-structured qualitative interviews with 10 key informants and 11 program clients, and a client survey (N = 50). The program provides housing stability for refugees using the rapid rehousing model. Out of the 50 clients who completed the survey, 80% were housed in private market rentals. Clients also described positive employment and education outcomes and improved social connectedness.

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There is a growing number of homeless individuals globally, and research increasingly recognises the importance of relationships and social support in promoting their well-being. However, limited attention has been given to the relational experiences of homeless individuals and the relationships that support their well-being during the transition out of homelessness. This qualitative study explored the relational well-being experiences of previously street homeless individuals residing in shelters in the City of Tshwane, South Africa. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 12 participants and were analysed thematically. The findings show that the relational experiences and relationships of significance among previously homeless individuals are shaped by three interconnected drivers of relational well-being. First, previously street homeless individuals are relational subjects whose well-being is shaped by relationships with others and within their material and social contexts. Second, relationships function as a key means through which participants address material, emotional, and social needs. Third, personal experiences, societal conditions, and environmental contexts interact to either promote or undermine well-being during the transition out of homelessness. The study highlights the importance of relationally supportive shelter environments in facilitating sustainable transitions out of homelessness, with implications for policy, practice, and intervention design.

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Despite the benefits of palliative and end-of-life (PEOL) care for individuals with serious and terminal illness, barriers to accessing this form of care persist among adults experiencing homelessness. Seriously ill unhoused individuals die at younger ages than stably housed individuals, are less likely to be receiving comprehensive care, and are more likely to die in unsupportive settings. Strengthening the evidence base for PEOL interventions for adults experiencing homelessness may help inform the development and implementation of future programs, ultimately improving this population’s access to PEOL care. The objective of this mixed-methods systematic review is to summarize the literature of PEOL interventions and programs for unhoused adults and identify barriers and facilitators for developing, implementing, and maintaining these interventions. Six databases and gray literature were searched to identify programs between December 2023 and February 2025. The search produced 407 articles; 30 met inclusion criteria and were assessed and synthesized using a convergent integrated approach. A total of 21 unique programs were described across the articles, including interventions focused on advanced care planning, service provider support, mobile palliative care, fixed-site services, and systemic strategies. Common barriers for program success included lack of funding or staff support, lack of buy-in from participating providers, an overall lack of resources available for unhoused individuals, and insufficient engagement with unhoused communities. Conversely, multi-agency and cross-disciplinary collaboration, community support, workforce training and support, and financial or organizational support were commonly identified as facilitators for program success. More financial and organization support are needed for the successful development and long-term success of PEOL programs for people experiencing homelessness. Future research should use implementation science to identify best practices for the development, implementation, and maintenance of evidence-based PEOL programs.

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Homelessness is an escalating global issue, often rooted in significant trauma, which increases the risk for frontline workers of vicarious trauma that adversely impacts their well-being and work environment. This scoping review aimed to map existing interventions designed to support the well-being of frontline workers in the homelessness sector, highlighting their characteristics, objectives, and outcomes. Following the six-step framework by Arksey and O’Malley, refined by Levac et al. and the Joanna Briggs Institute, we conducted a narrative thematic analysis of 17 studies encompassing 1,679 frontline workers. The identified interventions addressing learning and development opportunities, therapy and consultation, supervision and mentorship, team building and networking, financial support, peer group support, administrative assistance, and self-care strategies. Reported outcomes of interventions included improved knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy; increased job satisfaction; stronger collaboration and sense of belonging; reduced burnout and staff turnover; advocacy for policy changes; and overall improvement in worker well-being. From the narrative analysis of intervention’s components and outcomes, four key themes emerged: (i) tailored training equips frontline workers to prevent and manage vicarious trauma; (ii) multidisciplinary teams benefit both clients and frontline workers; (iii) timely consultation and supervision reduce burnout and turnover; and (iv) administrative and leadership support enhances frontline worker well-being. These findings highlighted that strengthening the homelessness workforce requires a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach involving capacity-building through tailored training, leadership support via supervision and consultation, and appropriate financial incentives. Implementing comprehensive, systemic support fosters a healthier workforce and enables frontline providers to deliver more effective, trauma-informed care. This review provides a comprehensive overview of strategies to support frontline workers serving people experiencing homelessness.

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Background: Research consistently provides evidence of an association between substance use and the experience of boredom, but how this relationship works is poorly understood. Purpose: The scope of literature exploring the relationship between boredom and substance use among persons who are unhoused is unknown. This study was employed to amalgamate this literature. Method: We conducted a scoping review using Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework, supplemented by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Using pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria, two independent raters performed a title and abstract screening followed by a full-text review of all applicable articles. An inductive data analysis was then performed. Findings: The search yielded 581 articles after the removal of duplicates. A total of seven articles remained at the full-text review stage and were included in the narrative synthesis. Four Themes were identified: 1) bored and homeless- the social aspects of ongoing substance use; 2) the provision of social and recreational activities as the antithesis to boredom and substance use; 3) substance use as a means of coping with boredom; and 4) the detrimental effects of substance use as a way of coping with boredom. None of the included studies specifically set out to examine the relationship between boredom and substance use among persons who were unhoused, suggesting a gap in the literature. Implications: A more fulsome understanding of the relationship between boredom and substance use is needed, particularly for persons who are unhoused, given the high prevalence of substance use in this population.

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This descriptive paper presents deaths among people experiencing street homelessness in Chile, drawing from systematically and retrospectively compiled media reports from 2020 to August 2025. The findings reveal a disproportionately high burden of premature mortality, with violent and preventable causes - particularly homicide - dominating the causes. Other significant causes include accidents, illnesses, and hypothermia, underscoring diverse and persistent risks. The results highlight critical gaps in national data systems and the urgent need for targeted prevention strategies, including enhance safety, improved access to healthcare, seasonal risk mitigation, and comprehensive housing interventions. Establishing standardized real-time mortality monitoring could enable earlier risk detection and more effective evidence-based policies to reduce preventable deaths and protect the rights and dignity of this marginalized population.

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Homelessness is not only a topic that significantly needs to be unpacked in the United States (US) but an issue for global society: a pressing humanitarian issue with disproportionate rates of housing instability rooted in systemic discrimination, family rejection, and societal stigma. In the US alone, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) youth’s likelihood of experiencing homelessness doubles when compared to their heterosexual peers. Only transgender and nonbinary youth face higher risks, according to recent studies. In the European Union, studies also suggest that LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented among homeless populations, comprising up to 30% of the total (Fraser et al., 2019). These displacements are often driven by familial rejection, religious convictions, and societal homophobia, as well as structural factors such as poverty and the lack of supportive housing systems. This article explores the service provisions model of Casa 1 and the experiences of youth in countries struggling with their development agenda, compounded by the experiences of homelessness as an identified member of the LGBTQ+ youth community. Within the Latin American community, ranked highest, Brazil’s LGBTQ+ youth make up 30-40% of the homeless youth (Brazilian Association of Homotransaffective Families [ABRAFH], 2020), and Argentina reports 30-35% due to family violence (Buenos Aires City Government , 2019).

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Homelessness and inadequate housing affect approximately 1.6 billion people worldwide. Despite making up a fraction of the population, people experiencing homelessness (PEH) have higher rates of physical and mental health complications compared to the rest of the population with increased barriers to accessing necessary health care services. Therefore, this comparative policy analysis explores healthcare access for PEH and how this differs in low-, middle-, and high-income countries using the representative countries of Rwanda, Colombia, and Canada respectively. Comparisons and contrasts were made by analyzing the homelessness situation and the healthcare access barriers for PEH in each of these nations. Analysis was conducted using a combination of scientific and grey literature to understand each country’s experiences and the Voluntary National Review (VNR) reports to understand governmental perspectives. Through analysis, it became evident that the challenges PEH face regarding healthcare access are similar across countries. However, legal regulations and attitudes by the public and governmental bodies influence specific situational treatments and what is being done to combat these barriers, creating differences in PEH’s experiences.