Definition of Homelessness Homelessness can simply be defined as the lack of a home or shelter. Hulchanski (n.d.) believes that homelessness is “a major unsolved political and social problem of our time.” He defines homelessness as: the absence of a place to live (a house, an apartment or a room - the physical structure) - which includes the absence of belonging to a place and to the people who live there (a house, in a social/psychological sense). . [It refers to] situations where people do not have regular and customary access to adequate and appropriate conventional housing (the physical structures designed and intended to be permanent residential housing). A person who has no permanent place to live stays in an emergency night shelter, in an abandoned building, in an all-night bar or theater, in a car, outdoors, or other similar places not intended to be living spaces” (Hulchanski, n.d.).On the other hand, Springer (2000) sees the term homelessness as a term that encompasses many possible meanings. Springer suggests using the term "homeless" instead of homeless. It also identifies the categories of homeless/homeless. According to Springer (2000), there are three categories of homelessness: Absolute homelessness refers to people using public or private accommodation. “People who sleep in the open, that is, on the streets, in public places or in any other place not intended for human habitation, are those who constitute the core of the “homeless” population [as well as] those who sleep in provided shelters from social welfare or other institutions” (Springer, 2000). Hidden homelessness refers to people who are homeless but temporarily housed with friends or family. “…all people living with… means of paper……researched March 30, 2007, from http://www.parkdalelegal.org/Homeless.htmPollack, G. (2001). "Who are the homeless Canadians?". Reader's Digest (2001). Available at http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/44/244.htmlRaising the Roof. “Case Study: Homeless Initiatives Fund.” Retrieved March 30, 2007, from http://www.raisingtheroof.org/ss-case-dsp.cfm?casefile=Homeless_Initiatives_FundRaising the Roof “Case Study: Literacy and Homelessness Project.” Retrieved March 30, 2007, from http://www.raisingtheroof.org/ss-casedsp.cfm?casefile=Literacy_and_Homelessness_ProjectSpringer, S. (2000 "Homelessness: A Proposal for a Global Definition and Classification." Habitat International, vol 24, Urban Homelessness in 11Toronto Report Card on Housing and Homelessness (2003) Retrieved March 30, 2007, from http://www.toronto.ca/homelessness/pdf/reportcard2003.pdf.