Watch Your Head

Design Works Here

We believe Design is: a creative solution that

improves the lives of people in need

Homelessness in Toronto

Causes of Homelessness•Poverty

•Addiction disorders•Substance abuse•Mental Illness•Domestic Abuse

Problems of Homelessness•Inadequate affordable

housing•Reduced access to health care•Limited access to education•Increased risk of violence and abuse•Discrimination•Difficulty gaining employment

The costs of Homelessness•5026 Homeless people in

Toronto•56 shelters

•$120 million spent every year

Brain Injury & Homelessness•A new study suggests that

brain injury may be linked to homelessness•53% of Toronto homeless have suffered a traumatic head injury

Brain Injury & Homelessness•70% suffered the injury

before becoming homeless

•More became homeless in the year of their injury than any other year

Head Trauma makes you•2.5x more likely to suffer

from seizures

•1.3x more likely to suffer from mental health problems

Head Trauma makes you•1.4x more likely to suffer

from alcohol addiction

•1.8x more likely to suffer from drug addiction

Our Design TruthHomeless people

are not as different from you as you would think

Watch Your Head•Campaign to encourage

people to identify with the homeless •Promote the findings of the report to the public

•Provoke demand for more research and intervention

watchyourhead.ca