Vulnerability to Climate Related Events: a Case Study of the Homeless Population in Waterloo Region

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Vulnerability to Climate Related Events: a Case Study of the Homeless Population in Waterloo Region Vulnerability to Climate Related Events: A Case Study of the Homeless Population in Waterloo Region by Wendy de Gómez A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Environmental Studies in Geography Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2010 ©Wendy de Gómez 2010 Author’s Declaration I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. ii Abstract Waterloo Region (population 470,000) is the eleventh largest urban region in Canada (2006 Census tract). Within this region, in 2007, 2,831 homeless people defined as commonly living or sleeping in indoor or outdoor spaces not intended for inhabitation used emergency shelters (Homelessness and Housing Group, 2008; Regional Municipality of Waterloo Region, 2007). It is expected that individuals who have inadequate or no permanent housing are particularly exposed and sensitive to environmental conditions such as extreme heat, cold events and poor air quality. Under climate change, it can be expected that the frequency of extreme events and days when air quality fails to meet healthy guidelines may increase. A wide survey of literature from environmental issues related to homelessness in first world countries has demonstrated that there is a research gap in understanding how urban citizens experiencing or facing homelessness adapt to environmental change. Therefore, this research addresses this gap by using both the vulnerability approach to local climate change assessments, and participatory action research to better understand the specificities of adaptation, the available services and future institutional strategies that could enhance the lives of this vulnerable population in relation to local environmental change. The conclusion is that people experiencing homelessness in Waterloo Region have a low vulnerability to climate related events as the social service system which they use is well developed and the climate related events are not severe. However, the vulnerability may increase in the future if service provision changes or if there is an increase in the duration, intensity and frequency of precipitation (rain) or extreme heat days. iii Acknowledgments I would like to thank Dr. Johanna Wandel and Dr. Manuel Riemer for their constant encouragement and direction in the development of this thesis. Their input and ideas were invaluable. I also owe a debt of gratitude to Lynn Randall and Marie Morrison from the Region of Waterloo Social Planning, Policy and Program Administration for their ideas and support in the overall conceptualization of this work. Brian Mills from the Adaptation and Impacts Division (University of Waterloo) of Environment Canada provided climate data for the project and Kate Klein aided in the interviewing, coding, transcription and analysis section of the thesis. Further, without the assistance of both Sonia Poirier and Craig Singleton who acted as peer researchers this study would not have been as in-depth nor would we have been able to capture many of the important nuances of this difficult to reach population. I would also to like to give thanks to Doug Rankin (Downtown Kitchener Community Health Centre), Jon Hill (OASIS), Mike Voisin (House of Friendship), Anne Tinker (Bridges), Jennifer Mains (The Working Centre and St. John’s Kitchen), Tim Horn, and Tina Fish (CMHA, Cambridge), Julie Hornyk (Lutherwood), Eva Vaslov (Argus), and Sandy Bell (ROOF) for providing invaluable assistance in recruiting interview participants as well as providing space to facilitate the interviews. Finally, I am indebted to my family for allowing me to pursue my long held dream of finishing my Masters Degree. This research was made possible by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada. iv Table of Contents Author’s declaration………………………………………………………………………………………..ii Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………….iii Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………………………...iv Table of contents…………………………………………………………………………………………………..v-ix List of Figures………………………………………………………………………………………………x List of Maps………………………………………………………………………………………………..xi List of Pictures…………………………………………………………………………………………….xii List of Graphs…………………………………………………………………………………………….xiii List of Tables………………………………………………......................................................................xiv Chapter one Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………1 1.1 Problem definition…………………………………………………………………………….....1 1.2 Vulnerability approach………………………………………………………………………..2-3 1.3 Research purpose and objectives……………………………………………………………...3-4 1.4 Thesis outline……………………………………………………………………………………5 Chapter two Approaches to vulnerability and conceptual definitions …………………………………6 2.1 Hazards approach……………………………………………………………………...............6 2.2 Vulnerability and climate change approach……….………………………………………..6-9 2.3 Risk management approach…………………………………………………………………...9 2.4 Political ecology approach…………………………………………………………………...10 2.5 Resilience approach………………………………………………………………………10-11 2.6 Urban health approach……………………………………………………………………12-14 2.7 Contextual climate change approach, political ecology, and urban health application…..18-19 2.8 Conceptual definitions……………………………………………………………………….19 2.8.1 Exposures and sensitivities……………………………...........................................19 2.8.2 Adaptive capacity and adaptations……………………………………………..19-20 2.8.3 Coping range and critical thresholds…………………………………………...20-21 v Chapter three Understanding vulnerable populations and homelessness …………………………....22 3.1 Vulnerable populations and climate change………………………………………………22-23 3.2 Vulnerable populations and homelessness………………………………………………..23-26 3.3 Homeless populations and climate change…………………………………………………...26 3.4 Homeless typologies………………………………………………………………………….27 3.4.1 At risk of homelessness……………………………………………………………27 3.4.2 Hidden homeless………………………………………………………………..27-28 3.4.3 Short term or crisis sheltered………………………………………………………28 3.4.4 Supportive housed……………………………………………………………...28-29 3.4.5 Absolutely homeless……………………………………………………………29-30 3.4.6 Degrees of homelessness…………………………………………………………..30 Chapter four Study area ………………………………………………………………………………...31 4.1 Study area……………………………………………………………………………………..31 4.2 Study population……………………………………………………………………………...32 4.3 Climate data……………………………………………………………………………….33-36 4.4 Critical thresholds and the regional alert system………………………………………….36-38 4.5 Regional emergency management system………………………………………………...38-40 4.7 Housing service inventory………………………………………………………………........40 4.8 Social system overview…………………………………………………………………...40-42 4.8.1 Ontario works ……………………………………………………………………...41 4.8.2 Ontario disability support program……………………………………………..41-42 4.8.3 Personal needs allowance………………………………………………………….42 4.9 Housing Programs in Waterloo Region………………………………………………………42 4.9.1 Emergency accommodation……………………………………………………43-45 4.9.2 Street outreach………………………………………………………………….46-47 4.9.3 Short-term housing stability programs…………………………………………47-49 4.9.4 Transitional housing……………………………………………………………49-50 4.9.5 Longer term housing……………………………………………………………50-51 vi Chapter five Research methods …………………………………………………………………………52 5.1 Participatory action research methodology ………………………………………………52-53 5.1.1. Collaborative sample frame development……………………………………..53-55 5.1.2. Sampling……………………………………………………………………….55-56 5.1.2 Collaborative data collection…………………………………………………..56-58 5.1.3 Analyzing interview data ………………………….…………………………..58-60 5.2 The vulnerability approach……………………………………………………………...........60 5.2.1 Engaging stakeholders and data collection……………………………………….61 5.2.2 Current exposures and sensitivities………………………………………………..61 5.2.3 Current adaptive strategies…………………………………….............................62 5.2.4 Estimating future conditions……………………………………………………...62 5.2.5 Estimating future adaptive capacity and vulnerability………………………..63-64 5. 3 Triangulation and member checks……………………………………………………….......64 5.4 Community report…………………………………………………………………….............64 5.5 Potential limitations and their resolutions………………………………………………...64-66 5.6 Ethical issues………………………………………………………………………….............66 Chapter six Current and future vulnerability ………………………………………………………….67 6.1 Environmental exposures…………………………………………………………………67-75 6.2 Adaptations………………………………………………………………………………..76-89 6.3 Adaptive capacity elements ………………………………………………………………….90 6.3.1 Human critical thresholds………………………………………………………90-93 6.3.2 Health…………………………………………………………………………...93-95 6.3.3 Demographic factors……………………………………………………………95-97 6.3.4 Social networks…………………………………………………………………97-98 6.4 Exogenous Factors contributing to adaptive capacity………………………………………...99 6.4.1 Regional civil society…………………………………………………………99-100 6.4.2 Distances and hours of operation…………………………………………….100-102 vii 6.4.3 Amenities…………………………………………………………………….102-103 6.4.4 Structural and systemic factors………………………………………………103-104 6.4.5 Buildings outdoors…………………………………………………………..........104 6.4.6 Outdoor space…………………………………………………………………….105 6.4.7 Transportation system………………………………………………………..105-106 6.4.8 Entitlement…………………………………………………………………...106-107 6.5 Endogenous Factors contributing to adaptive capacity……………………………………...107 6.5.1 Internal perceptions………………………………………………………….107-108 6.5.2 Social capital…………………………………………………………………108-109 6.5.3 Free- will and activism ……………………………………………………...109-110
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