Unknown Challenges a Homeless Person Faces
Individuals dealing with homelessness face numerous obstacles, but some are more visible than others. Beyond immediate needs such as food and shelter, people experiencing homelessness also require resources and environments to improve their circumstances and take back their lives.
From being unable to obtain reliable identification, difficulty accessing healthcare, and lack of access to clean clothes and personal hygiene equipment, a person experiencing homelessness faces a spectrum of challenges on a daily basis.
Regeneration Outreach provides access to numerous services to help people who are dealing with homelessness. Below, we’ll share our firsthand knowledge of the surprising challenges that come with being unhoused and tell you what you can do to help end homelessness in our community.
What Factors Contribute to Homelessness?
At least 36% of all Canadians have either experienced homelessness themselves or know someone who has. Numerous factors can increase the risk of homelessness for a given person, including:
Income inequality
Lack of affordable housing
Lack of family or community support
Limited access to public services
Limited access to resources for mental health and addiction issues
Systemic discrimination
However, many people tend to conflate these potential causes of homelessness with the resulting challenges homelessness can bring. As such, there is a lack of proper public awareness regarding some of the most significant struggles people face while unhoused.
What Are the Challenges of Homelessness?
Homelessness presents a range of complex challenges that impact nearly every part of a person’s life. Without access to safe and stable housing, individuals face constant uncertainty, exposure to harsh weather, and an increased risk of violence. Basic needs like food, healthcare, and hygiene become difficult to manage, and without a fixed address or reliable transportation, finding and keeping a job is an ongoing struggle. These barriers can make it nearly impossible to break the cycle of homelessness without support.
Some of the needs that people living with homelessness have are easy to identify, but others are much less obvious. Having enough nutritious food to eat and a place to sleep are undoubtedly important. However, people who are coping with homelessness have other vital needs as well—and working to end homelessness requires us to be aware of them all.
Reliable Identification
Living without official identification can create additional barriers for those seeking to overcome homelessness. Not only do people facing homelessness require ID to apply for most jobs and social programs that could help improve their circumstances—but being homeless can make it harder to obtain an ID in the first place.
Applying for most forms of government ID requires the applicant to have specific literacy skills, enough money to pay the accompanying fees, and other forms of documentation to verify their identity. The longer a person has been struggling with homelessness, the harder these criteria can be to meet—and for people who grew up unhoused, they can be impossible obstacles to overcome alone.
For these reasons, Regeneration Outreach runs an ID Clinic specifically designed to help people who are unhoused obtain birth certificates. Having a birth certificate makes it easier for a person to apply for other forms of identification, secure employment, and feel human.
Healthcare
Many people experiencing homelessness do not have access to adequate healthcare. In Ontario, proof of address is mandatory for procuring an OHIP card, which allows the bearer to access provincial health services. As such, people who do not have a permanent address can find themselves unable to use even the most fundamental public health resources.
Regeneration Outreach offers physical and mental health support through our weekly Life Skills classes. We also provide additional resources through our Addiction Services program and have access to a nurse practitioner through our partnership with Peel Outreach. We work closely with all our community members to learn about their individual needs and strive to connect them with appropriate health care services.
Clean Clothing
People who are living without a home face difficulties cleaning their clothes. Many are also in need of new clothing but unable to purchase it for themselves. Regeneration Outreach approaches this problem in several different ways:
Our laundry services provide public access to washers and dryers 6 days a week, with laundry soap and dryer sheets provided. We also run a Clothes Closet to help community members replace worn-out clothing for numerous purposes—protection from the elements, preparing for job interviews, and more.
Access to Personal Hygiene Equipment
Staying clean and presentable is about more than being comfortable—it’s also about maintaining dignity. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people experiencing homelessness face challenges accessing many luxuries that others take for granted, such as showers and haircuts.
We provide access to hot showers through our facilities every day of the week during program hours, along with soap, shampoo, and fresh towels. We also partner with a licensed stylist to provide free haircuts during breakfast hours on Mondays and every other Saturday.
Physical Safety
Structural violence and homelessness are closely linked, leading to lower life expectancy rates for people who are unhoused. We accept as many guests as we can at Regeneration Outreach and work hard to maintain a stable environment where every individual in our care is safe at all times.
Our Life Skills program includes classes on anger management training and relationship building, which contribute to safer and more stable conditions for the people we serve and those around them. Our culture is one of empowerment and respect.
Join Us In Fighting Homelessness
Homelessness creates a diverse spectrum of urgent challenges for the people who experience it and the people who love them. Our work at Regeneration Outreach allows these people to access various resources that can help them solve these problems, but we can always use help from the community at large.Whether you want to donate, provide essential items, or volunteer your time, we are always ready to accept your support with open arms. Contact us today and find out how you can become an ally in the struggle to end homelessness once and for all.
Food Bank Donation Checklist
Food banks are a vital resource in our community that can help provide food and support for those in need. While it’s common to associate food bank donations with holidays or colder months, the truth is that the need for assistance exists throughout the year.
So what items do food banks need? There are some items food banks need all year round, including non-perishable items, personal care items, and perishables, and with rising food prices, the need is currently higher than ever. Knowing what your food bank needs can help you make a lasting impact for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in Brampton.
Break the Seasonal Stereotype
Hunger is not seasonal. It doesn’t take a vacation during the warmer months, only to visit during the holidays. The need for food assistance persists throughout the year, affecting individuals and families regardless of the season.
While generous donations during peak times are heartwarming, hunger knows no boundaries of time or weather.
As temperatures rise, so does the misconception that a food bank needs less. This means those hazy summer days present unique challenges for food banks. Donations tend to decrease during summer, resulting in potential gaps in assistance, and many food banks face the chance of running out of food during this time of year.
The reality is that even without the December chill, individuals and families still face financial hardships and require support to put food on their tables. But, by recognizing this seasonal dip, we may be able to change the general trend and help feed those experiencing food insecurity, even when the weather is warm.
The Rising Cost of Food
The rising cost of food affects everyone, but its impact is exceptionally hard-hitting for those already struggling with food insecurity, making it difficult to afford an adequate supply of nutritious food. As grocery bills increase, budgets shrink, leaving many with no choice but to turn to food banks for assistance.
The need for food bank services has been steadily increasing, fueled by the economic challenges of inflation. Families who once managed to get by now find themselves relying on food banks to meet their most basic needs. The strain placed on food banks is growing as they work tirelessly to ensure no one goes hungry.
Your donations can help make a difference in the lives of those affected.
Food Bank Donation Checklist
You can check your local food bank to see what food donation items the community needs the most, but some items are required on a regular basis. A food bank generally needs a stock of grains, proteins, fruits and vegetables, and pantry staples with a high shelf life.
Non-Perishable Food Items To Donate
When considering food donations, non-perishable items are a great place to start. These items have a long shelf life and are versatile, making them ideal for stocking food bank shelves.
Essential non-perishable food items include:
Canned goods (vegetables, beans, soups, fruit, & meat)
Pasta & sauce
Powdered milk
Boxed mac & cheese
Granola bars
Oil
Cereal (hot & cold)
Baby food/formula
Tea bags
Peanut butter
Jelly
Juice boxes
Items for school lunches
Personal Care & Hygiene Products
Some people forget, but a food bank can be about more than just food. Basic personal care needs are often overlooked when it comes to donations but still vital for overall well-being.
Consider donating personal care items, such as:
Toothpaste
Soap
Shampoo
Deodorant
Sunscreen
Baby diapers
Feminine hygiene products
Dish soap
These essentials can make a world of difference in someone’s life, reminding them that they matter and are cared for.
Food Rescue Programs & Perishable Food
It is generally encouraged to donate non-perishable food items and personal care products, as they are consistently the items that are of greatest need in a food bank. But, organizations like Regeneration Outreach Community partner with grocers, food suppliers and producers who help supply their food bank with perishable food items. This food rescue program helps bring in thousands of pounds of perishable items every week to the food bank and in turn provides fresh food for so many individuals and families.
Food rescue requires a lot of time and effort from staff and volunteers, and Regeneration’s food rescue team is always looking for new volunteers who can pick up and deliver these donations on a weekly basis. Are you interested in getting involved? Please visit our volunteer page to get started!
What Not to Donate to a Food Bank
When donating to a food bank in Brampton, it’s important to know which items are most useful. Homemade meals, expired goods, or opened packages can’t be accepted due to health and safety regulations. Instead, focus on non-perishable items, shelf-stable items like canned proteins (tuna, beans, chicken), pasta, rice, peanut butter, baby formula, and ready-to-eat soups. These types of donations are the most practical and helpful for serving individuals and families in our local community.
When in doubt, consider nutritious items with a long shelf life that you’d want to have on hand during a challenging time. If you have questions about what to donate or what not to donate to a food bank, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Community Care All Year Round
The commitment to fighting hunger goes beyond seasonal giving.
Your contributions matter. Your sustained support throughout the year helps Regeneration Marketplace meet rising needs for support and bridge the seasonal gaps. We serve hundreds of families and individuals each week—donate today and keep the meals coming.
Together, we can work for a future where no one in our community goes hungry.