Homelessness is a very complex issue to which there are no simple solutions. Such a problem requires all levels of government to work together in order to find solutions. A recent study in Sudbury revealed that during the week of July 18th to 24th, 399 homeless individuals used the services of social agencies. Thirty-two of these people were children, thirty-seven were adolescents aged 13 to 19, and four seniors over the age of 65. The primary causes of homelessness were due to problems with social assistance and unemployment. The consequences of living on the streets are: dying from exposure, illness, violence or suicide. Even though there are services and assistance to those who are homeless, there will not be an end to the problem.
             According to Julie Finin Day, "Canada has been whittling away social spending for the past 17 years" (Finin Day 1). Such cutbacks can lead to further budget reductions in welfare payments and community resource programs. A study has shown that one third of homeless people are living with a mental illness. Many of these people with mental illnesses are homeless because they have been discharged from hospitals or jails without the proper community support. Drug-use, alcohol and gambling addictions are other reasons that contribute to them staying homeless. There are few adequate community plans to help their re-integration into community life once discharged from such institutions.
             Living on the street can cause serious, long-term mental and physical health problems. Increasing numbers of homeless people living on the street are falling sick with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis, STDs, and communical infections (Pollack 2). Many of these diseases and sicknesses are caused because of poor living conditions, meager rations, untreated mental illnesses and exposure to the elements. As the cost of living rises and the housing shortage spans the country, the people squeezed are those on the econom...