Homelessness: How To End The National Crisis

by Jack Layton

Barely two decades ago the world's experts in housing policy were giving Canada high marks for its progressive housing policies. Until recently, our own common understanding of homelessness had been limited to occasional wanderers, eccentrics, boozers or addicts. Yet, as a new century dawns, homelessness as we recognize it has changed and grown, offering painful reminders of the soup-kitchen lineups of the depression era. Homelessness is a rapidly growing social problem. Measured in terms of displaced persons, the dimensions of the crisis rival those found during natural disasters such as the Quebec and Manitoba floods, or the great ice storm of '98. Today's homelessness in Canadian communities represents a relatively new phenomenon, difficult to comprehend in this land and time of plenty. How did this happen? How did we get here? What can be done to solve it? Jack Layton, one of this country's leading experts and outspoken activists on housing issues, addresses the crisis from its roots, in order not only to understand the problem, but to find workable solutions. With a stunning combination of rigorous research and compelling personal anecdote, and trenchant and timely analysis from such wide-ranging sources as social scientists, housing economists, mayors, journalists, clergy and the homeless themselves, Homelessness offers insight, perspective and proactive solutions to a seemingly intractable crisis.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Social Issues, Canada

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Canadian leader of the New Democrats,the NDP, a social democratic party in Canada, born on July 18th of 1950. He was the author of two books including Speaking Out Louder: Ideas That Work for Canadians and Homelessness: The Making and Unmaking of a Crisis.Member of the Canadian Parliament for Toronto-Durham until his death. Graduating of McGill University in 1970 with Honours BA in political science.
He died on August 22 2011, 61 years old, after suffering from an undisclosed type of cancer.

After his death, his wife put out his letter that he wrote to all Canadians after his death, which inspired many to continue his legacy.

Reviews

[Wendelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read from the late great Jack Layton. It's a prodigious report on the state of homelessness in Canada, up-to-date to 2006 but with trends that reverberate today. Every page is infused with Mr. Layton's empathy, compassion and sense of urgency for the people who suffer this condition due to poverty, high urban rent , job loss, personal tragedy in the form of divorce, domestic abuse, or onset of mental illness, and instances of addiction or frayed home life. At the same time, comprehensive data is provided at the highest standard. It's at the high standards of an academic work yet readable for all of us who are involved in a society with such a pressing issue.

Also, here's a quote tidbit I cannot help but append here:
"Isn't it sad that these people just seem to want to be homeless?" (from p.31)
-Premier Mike Harris of Ontario, great forerunner of Doug Ford

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great resource for me and gave me greater insight into the beginnings of homelessness in Canada (at least at the levels we are experiencing now). However, there was a lot of repetition throughout the book and I found myself skimming. But since I am fully immersed in this issue and participate in a lot of dialogue in my community on a regularly basis, my skimming probably has more to do with my attention span than the writing itself. Having said that, I really appreciate how well Jack Layton balances heartfelt compassion for fellows human beings with cold hard facts on policy and economics, which is a rare find among authors who have written on the subject.

[Scout Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-done, comprehensive, easy-to-understand and accessible book on homelessness & housing.

I read this book for school. I wanted to learn more about Jack Layton and his opinions and experiences (and I also thought he would probably not write in a pretentious way). This book also seemed very well-rounded (providing a variety of aspects of the housing crisis).

Layton gathered lots of studies and statistics even though at the time of writing, homelessness and housing issues were not tracked as well as they are now. I did read the older version of this book, which was written around 2000, instead of the updated 2008 one. Layton backed up his claims very well, and at times there were even too many statistics/too much math (made it a bit dry).

As I hoped, the book was easy to understand; written for an ordinary person to grasp. Layton's care and passion can be felt by the reader. This book was interesting throughout and was not hard to get through. It was definitely a worthwhile read. I am more educated and understand housing as an issue much better after reading this book.

I really appreciate how Layton makes this book accessible for any Canadian instead of writing it in a way that only housing experts could understand. The reader is able to learn about the issue, the government and policy, feel sympathy (or empathy), and become aware of the facts.

I would recommend to anyone interested in a very comprehensive book on homelessness/the housing crisis. This book will deepen your knowledge of the subject, provide important perspectives, and a history of how this issue has progressed over time.

[Bryan Richard]

Anybody wanting an overview of the homelessness problem in Canada should definitely read this book. It was written by the late Jack Layton, former Toronto councillor and former leader of the NDP. Until I read this book I really had no idea just how bad the homelessness situation is in Canada.

[Ivana Amidzic]

North Americans just don't get the entire housing as a human right concept.

I am doing an extensive research on certain aspects of homelessness in my province I am particularly interested in and don't hear many people talk about, so was pleased to find it being written about by Jack Layton. This is the first book of his I read. Previously I mostly read his wife's work - Olivia Chow, who is now Mayor of Toronto (probably the coolest Mayor Canada currently has).

Very valuable to compare and contrast each province's specificity and regional misgiving regarding housing with lots of actually useful data rather than stories only.

Census of Homelessness (or PIT) is so flawed and often unhelpful, especially around rural and urban unhoused population divide.

I reckon I will need to read this book again soon!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would Canada be a different country if Jack Layton had been able to continue in his career and work? This book provides the clearest, most comprehensive summary of how the housing and homelessness crisis came to be - or rather, was created by decades of poor policy decisions. It drags in parts but is overall fascinating. Rest in peace, Jack Layton - I hope we do you proud someday very soon.

[Stephanie Clowater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Homelessness was a subject very close to Jack Layton's heart. And he wrote about it so powerfully and succinctly. Definitely a good book for anyone wanting to learn more about the reasons behind homelessness and the various types of solutions available to eliminate this crisis.

[Zibbernaut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this really sent me into a What-If, parallel universe where Jack Layton hadn't passed away before he could become our Prime Minister. Its so surreal reading his book when I've watched his funeral. I don't know why it hit me in such a way, but its unlike a celebrity death somehow.

This is unfortunately a dry read, and horribly out of date. For that reason I don't recommend it to anyone--this is mostly full of studies from 1990-2006. Our world has changed drastically since then. I picked this up since it was available on my library app.

[Valentina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Layton, do I need to say more?