Homelessness across Alaska, the Canadian North and Greenland: A Review of the Literature on a Developing Social Phenomenon in the Circumpolar North

Abstract

Over the past three decades, homelessness has become an area of significant social concern in Alaska, the Canadian North, and most recently, Greenland. These three geographical contexts show both similarities and contrasts, but no effort has yet been made to review the research literature on homelessness from these three regions or to highlight key themes or gaps in current knowledge. We reviewed the literature in order to 1) understand the current state of knowledge of the dynamics of homelessness in Alaska, the Canadian North (here including Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut), and Greenland and 2) conceptualize a northern geography of homelessness. The research literature identifies common themes across these contexts, which include chronic housing insecurity, overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples among those living homeless, and the significance of gendered experiences of homelessness. It identifies key interconnections between hidden homelessness and visible homelessness as the dynamics of urbanization in northern towns and cities reveal the social consequences of chronic housing insecurity in settlements. Across these northern regions, the high rates of chronic homelessness reflect the prevalence of northern housing insecurity and the lack of both adequate, appropriate support for people experiencing mental health or addiction problems and supportive or public housing options. Strategies that aim to diversify housing stock at various critical points along the housing spectrum are needed in northern regions, an idea that is promoted by Housing First and transitional housing programs in Alaska and the Canadian North.

Gender Equality for a Thriving, Sustainable Arctic

“…Indigenous People are overrepresented amongst the homeless worldwide, as is the case for Alaska, Greenland, and Arctic Canada [50]. Histories of displacement, experiencing a loss of home, and being forced to move have resulted in intergenerational trauma, which, in some cases, is the root cause of homelessness.…”

“…Histories of displacement, experiencing a loss of home, and being forced to move have resulted in intergenerational trauma, which, in some cases, is the root cause of homelessness. Such trauma is linked to racism towards Indigenous Peoples along with mental health issues, violence, incarcerations, and addictions [50]. Additionally, homelessness is a gendered phenomenon.…”

Native American Homelessness and Minneapolis’ Infamous Tent City: Dispelling Myths and Stereotypes to Uncover Solutions

“…Alaska is another place with a history of systemic issues in government and public education leading to homelessness/chronic homelessness for Native Americans (Barnhardt, 2001). In Alaska, Native women and children are a majority of the homeless (Christensen et al, 2017). For Native Alaskan women, "Episodic homelessness, [stems from] histories of domestic violence, sexual assault, and growing up in [or losing custody of children to] the foster care system…anecdotal accounts of ethnic discrimination, substance abuse, incarceration, and…the child welfare system" (Christensen et al, 2017, p. 351).…”

Living in the South, Caring in the North: Exploring Inuit Women’s Care Responsibilities

“…For several decades, most northern communities have been experiencing a housing crisis that affects individual and collective well-being (Christensen, 2017). Attempts to solve the housing crisis have remained unsuccessful due to persistent barriers that include limited local economic opportunities, a virtually nonexistent private housing market, insufficient public resources, high building and maintenance costs due to cold climate, costly shipping and transportation of materials, and geographic remoteness (Christensen et al, 2017;Northern Housing Forum, 2018). The lack of adequate and affordable housing in the North also accounts for Inuit women's journeys to urban centres.…”