At Out of the Cold we meet many types of people. Often people have preconceived notions about what a homeless person looks like. They envision an drug using, drunk hobo who is homeless because he is lazy, unkempt and doesn't want to work. Take the little quiz below to learn about some of the myths about the homeless.

Homeless Myths Mini Quiz

1. They want to be homeless.
True False
The Correct Answer is: False

Every one of our guests wants to have a home. In ten years dealing with the homeless, I have not met one person who wants to be homeless. That does not mean that the choices they make haven't made them homeless.

2. It's their fault that they're homeless.
True False
The Correct Answer is: False

Most homeless people are victims of circumstance. Marriage breakup is the leading cause of homelessness in Canada today. Other causes are physical and mental health issues, abuse, inadequate income, and insufficient affordable housing.

3. Homeless people don't work.
True False
The Correct Answer is: False

Only 14% are unemployed. Even a person earning minimum wage at a full time job can't earn enough to pay for rent and food. Many can only find part time or occasional jobs. Others are often disabled, either physically or mentally and/or suffering from addictions.

We had one woman who seemed really well grounded. She was disabled in an accident and was on disability. We thought that the only reason she was on the streets was housing affordability, but when someone found her a place, she couldn't stay there because of bugs crawling on the walls. No one else could see the bugs.

Others have trouble maintaining housing because they have lost the ability to fit in socially with the expectations of neighbours and landlords

4. They are all mentally ill.
True False
The Correct Answer is: False

About 25 percent of our guests do suffer from mental illness ranging from mild depression to schizophrenia with psychotic episodes. Most of them could maintain housing with a minimum amount of assistance.

5. They are all heavy drug users or alcoholics.
True False
The Correct Answer is: False

Yes, some of our guests are substance abusers but 66 percent have never used drugs and 37 percent never use alcohol.

6. They are dangerous.
True False
The Correct Answer is: False

In general, the homeless are among the least threatening group in our society. Most often they are the victims of crimes and not the perpetrators.

Some years ago a homeless man sleeping near the railroad tracks at King Street was set on fire. A number of years ago we found one of our alcoholics who had been beaten and urinated on by some youths in a nearby parking lot.

7. The welfare system is rife with cheating and fraud.
True False
The Correct Answer is: False

A study conducted by a national auditing firm estimated fraud to be in the range of 3% of the Ontario welfare budget. On the other hand there are estimates that income tax fraud is in the order of 20%.

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