Indigenous and Non-Indigenous People Experiencing Homelessness and Mental Illness in Two Canadian Cities: A Retrospective Analysis and Implications for Culturally Informed Action

Indigenous people in Canada are not only over-represented among the homeless population but their pathways to homelessness may differ from those of non-Indigenous people. This study investigated the history and current status of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people experiencing homelessness and mental illness. The authors hypothesized that compared with non-Indigenous people, those who are Indigenous would demonstrate histories of displacement earlier in life, higher rates of trauma and self-medication with alcohol and other substances.