This report documents the results of a study conducted during 2004 and 2005 in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland that explored the barriers faced by people who are homeless in gaining access to employment and employment assistance services .
The report is based on data gathered through a 4-pronged research strategy that includes a survey of 74 service providers (SPs) in the homelessness and employment services sectors, a series of ethnographic interviews with 23 homeless people, and a review of government policies that affect the access of the homeless to employment and employment services
A key project finding is that, at least in the case of the respondents in this study,
- many homeless people have extensive work histories, the depth of which vary with their age.
- Most of the homeless respondents in the study already work. However, although a few had formal jobs during the course of the interviews, most engaged in a range of informal activities to generate income. They had to do this to survive because many were not getting income assistance. But even those who were had to generate additional income because the amounts of assistance that are available are so low. Such informally-generated income is, in most cases, very minimal
To read the whole report visit here