Homelessness and Vulnerable Persons Course 2026

1. Pergunta 1 de 25

   Which phrase uses respectful, person-first language?

   • AA transient drifter downtown
   • BA street bum with no home
   • CA vagrant living on the street
   • DA person experiencing homelessness
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   Resposta: D. A person experiencing homelessness

   Person-first language puts the person before their situation. Homelessness is something a person goes through, not who they are.

2. Pergunta 2 de 25

   In the Canadian Definition of Homelessness, a person staying on a friend's couch because they have nowhere else to live is…

   • Aunsheltered, because they have no lease of their own
   • Bnot homeless, because they have a roof over their head
   • Cprovisionally accommodated, also called hidden homelessness
   • Demergency sheltered, because the stay is short-term
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   Resposta: C. provisionally accommodated, also called hidden homelessness

   People staying temporarily with friends or family, in motels or in transitional housing are provisionally accommodated. This is often called hidden homelessness.

3. Pergunta 3 de 25

   What does "unsheltered" mean in the Canadian Definition of Homelessness?

   • AStaying in a shelter run by a community agency
   • BLiving with relatives for a few weeks after an eviction
   • CLiving outdoors or in places not meant for people to live
   • DRenting a room in a rooming house with a lease
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   Resposta: C. Living outdoors or in places not meant for people to live

   Unsheltered, or absolute, homelessness means living outdoors, in vehicles or in other places not meant for human living, without consent.

4. Pergunta 4 de 25

   A person staying at a domestic violence shelter is in which category of the Canadian Definition of Homelessness?

   • AEmergency sheltered
   • BProvisionally accommodated
   • CHoused
   • DUnsheltered
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   Resposta: A. Emergency sheltered

   Emergency sheltered includes homeless shelters, violence-against-women shelters and disaster shelters.

5. Pergunta 5 de 25

   What is 211 in Canada?

   • AThe national police non-emergency line for reporting crime
   • BA government line for reporting trespassers on private land
   • CThe number to call for an ambulance in most provinces
   • DA free, confidential line to community and social services
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   Resposta: D. A free, confidential line to community and social services

   211 helps people find food, shelter, housing, mental health and other community services. In most of Canada it runs 24 hours a day.

6. Pergunta 6 de 25

   You find a person lying on the sidewalk outside your site on a very cold night. They do not respond when you speak loudly and tap their shoulder. What do you do?

   • AAsk them to move along so they are off the property
   • BLet them sleep and check again at the end of your shift
   • CCall 9-1-1 right away and give first aid you are trained to give
   • DCall 211 and wait for an outreach worker
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   Resposta: C. Call 9-1-1 right away and give first aid you are trained to give

   An unresponsive person is a medical emergency. Call 9-1-1 first. 211 is for non-emergency services.

7. Pergunta 7 de 25

   You need to check on a person sleeping in a stairwell. How should you start?

   • AShine a flashlight in their eyes and shout to wake them
   • BStand back, say who you are and ask if they are okay
   • CShake their shoulder firmly so they wake up quickly
   • DSearch their bags for ID before you wake them up
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   Resposta: B. Stand back, say who you are and ask if they are okay

   Start from a safe distance with a calm voice. Startling someone who is asleep can frighten them and put you both at risk.

8. Pergunta 8 de 25

   Your post orders say no one may sleep in the lobby overnight. A person is sleeping there. What is the best approach?

   • ACarry their belongings outside so they have to follow you
   • BWake them politely, explain the rule, allow time to pack, offer shelter info
   • CTell them loudly to get out so other people see the rule enforced
   • DCall police right away without speaking to the person at all
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   Resposta: B. Wake them politely, explain the rule, allow time to pack, offer shelter info

   You can enforce site rules and still treat the person with dignity. Explaining, giving time and offering resources lowers the chance of conflict.

9. Pergunta 9 de 25

   A person who was asked to leave the site has left a cart of belongings behind. What should you do?

   • AThrow the items in the garbage bin at the end of your shift
   • BGo through the bags to check whether anything was stolen
   • CHandle them with care and follow your site's procedure
   • DGive the items to anyone who says they belong to a friend
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   Resposta: C. Handle them with care and follow your site's procedure

   Belongings may be everything a person owns, including ID and medicine. Handle them carefully and follow your employer's procedure.

10. Pergunta 10 de 25

    Where do the main rules on trespassing on private property in Canada come from?

    • AThe Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
    • BThe Criminal Code only
    • CCity parking bylaws
    • DProvincial and territorial trespass laws
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    Resposta: D. Provincial and territorial trespass laws

    Each province and territory has its own trespass law, such as Ontario's Trespass to Property Act and Alberta's Trespass to Premises Act.

11. Pergunta 11 de 25

    A person refuses to leave after you clearly direct them to, but they are calm and not a danger to anyone. What is usually the safest choice?

    • ALock them in a room until they agree to leave quietly
    • BTake hold of their arm and walk them off the property yourself
    • CKeep talking calmly and call police instead of using force
    • DTell them you will call immigration if they do not go
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    Resposta: C. Keep talking calmly and call police instead of using force

    Physical removal raises the risk of injury and complaints. Many sites tell guards to call police when a person will not leave, and to document what happened.

12. Pergunta 12 de 25

    A store manager tells you to remove anyone who "looks homeless" from the mall during opening hours, even if they are not breaking any rule. What should guide your actions?

    • AHow the person is dressed and whether they look clean
    • BThe person's behaviour and the site rules, applied equally
    • CWhether the person is carrying bags or a backpack
    • DWhether other shoppers say they feel uncomfortable
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    Resposta: B. The person's behaviour and the site rules, applied equally

    Act on what a person does, not how they look. Applying rules unequally is unfair and can lead to human rights complaints.

13. Pergunta 13 de 25

    A person outdoors in winter is shivering, confused and slow to answer. What should you do?

    • ACall 9-1-1 and move them gently to a warm place
    • BRub their hands and feet hard to get the blood moving
    • CGive them a drink of alcohol to help warm them up
    • DHave them run on the spot or walk quickly to warm up
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    Resposta: A. Call 9-1-1 and move them gently to a warm place

    These can be signs of hypothermia. Handle the person gently, keep them lying flat if possible, and warm the core while you wait for EMS.

14. Pergunta 14 de 25

    When should a frostbitten hand be thawed?

    • AOnly if there is no chance it will freeze again
    • BOnly by rubbing it with snow
    • CNever; it should stay frozen until hospital
    • DRight away, even if the person will go back outside
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    Resposta: A. Only if there is no chance it will freeze again

    Thawing and then refreezing causes more damage, so only thaw if the body part will not freeze again.

15. Pergunta 15 de 25

    You find a used needle on the ground near where people sleep. What should you do?

    • AWrap it in paper and put it in a regular garbage bag
    • BPick it up carefully by the barrel and put the cap back on
    • CKick it under a bush or into a corner so nobody steps on it
    • DDo not touch it bare-handed; follow your site's sharps procedure
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    Resposta: D. Do not touch it bare-handed; follow your site's sharps procedure

    Never handle needles with bare hands or recap them. Use the proper tools and a puncture-proof sharps container, or call the service your site uses.

16. Pergunta 16 de 25

    Why does a calm, respectful approach matter so much when working with people experiencing homelessness?

    • AIt makes people leave faster, so you can skip the conversation
    • BMany have lived through trauma; harshness can cause fear or conflict
    • CIt means you will never have to enforce the site's rules
    • DIt is only needed when managers or customers are watching
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    Resposta: B. Many have lived through trauma; harshness can cause fear or conflict

    Respect lowers stress for everyone. People who have been hurt before may react strongly to shouting, crowding or touching.

17. Pergunta 17 de 25

    Which person is most likely to be a vulnerable person who needs extra care from a guard?

    • AA contractor who arrived early for a morning shift
    • BAn older adult who seems lost and confused late at night
    • CA delivery driver asking for the loading dock entrance
    • DA tenant who forgot their key fob at home
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    Resposta: B. An older adult who seems lost and confused late at night

    Vulnerable persons include people who are lost, confused, very young, elderly, ill, intoxicated or in crisis, and who may not be able to keep themselves safe.

18. Pergunta 18 de 25

    A person is very intoxicated, cannot stand on their own, and it is getting cold. What should you do?

    • ALet them walk home alone
    • BGive them coffee and leave them on a bench
    • CTell them to leave the property right away
    • DStay with them and call 9-1-1 for medical help
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    Resposta: D. Stay with them and call 9-1-1 for medical help

    A person who cannot care for themselves is at risk of injury, choking or cold injury. Get medical help rather than sending them away.

19. Pergunta 19 de 25

    While you are talking with a person, they say they want to end their life. They are not in immediate danger. Which service can they call or text 24/7?

    • A3-1-1
    • B8-1-1
    • C9-8-8
    • D2-1-1
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    Resposta: C. 9-8-8

    9-8-8 is Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline, open 24/7 by call or text. Call 9-1-1 if there is immediate danger.

20. Pergunta 20 de 25

    Someone walking by wants to post a video of a person sleeping in your building's doorway. What should you do as the guard?

    • ADo not record or share images; respect their privacy
    • BAsk the person to pose for a photo for your report
    • CRecord it too, as evidence of trespassing
    • DPost a photo on the site's social media as a warning
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    Resposta: A. Do not record or share images; respect their privacy

    Guards should not film or share images of people in vulnerable situations, except as required by site policy for security purposes.

21. Pergunta 21 de 25

    Which notebook entry is written in a factual, respectful way?

    • A"02:15 Usual junkie found sleeping. Dealt with him and he left."
    • B"02:15 Drunk bum in the stairwell again. Kicked him out of the building."
    • C"02:15 Vagrant problem in east stairwell, handled as per usual."
    • D"02:15 Man, about 40, asleep in east stairwell. Explained policy. Left 02:25."
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    Resposta: D. "02:15 Man, about 40, asleep in east stairwell. Explained policy. Left 02:25."

    Notes should record times, facts and actions in neutral words. Labels and slurs are unprofessional and can hurt you in court.

22. Pergunta 22 de 25

    What is Reaching Home?

    • AA provincial law that sets rules on trespassing on private land
    • BA federal program that funds communities to prevent and reduce homelessness
    • CA shelter network run by the RCMP in larger cities
    • DA private security licence category for shelter work
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: B. A federal program that funds communities to prevent and reduce homelessness

    Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy is a community-based federal program that started in 2019.

23. Pergunta 23 de 25

    When you talk with a person who may be upset, how should you stand?

    • ABehind them, out of sight, so they do not feel watched
    • BAt an angle, with space and a clear way out for both
    • CDirectly in front of them, close enough to touch their arm
    • DBetween them and the only exit so they cannot walk away
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    Resposta: B. At an angle, with space and a clear way out for both

    Giving space and keeping exits clear helps the person feel less trapped and keeps you safer.

24. Pergunta 24 de 25

    Why offer a choice, such as "You can wait in the vestibule until 6 a.m., or I can call an outreach team for you"?

    • AIt means the site rules no longer apply to that person
    • BIt confuses the person so they give up and leave
    • CIt lets you skip writing an incident report afterwards
    • DChoices give the person some control, which lowers tension
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    Resposta: D. Choices give the person some control, which lowers tension

    People are more likely to cooperate when they keep some control. Offer only choices your site actually allows.

25. Pergunta 25 de 25

    You suspect a person sleeping outside your site has overdosed on opioids. You have a naloxone kit and are trained. Which statement is true?

    • ACall 9-1-1, give naloxone and stay with the person
    • BLeave once you give naloxone, since it lasts all night
    • CWait to see if they wake up on their own
    • DGive naloxone only if they have a prescription
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    Resposta: A. Call 9-1-1, give naloxone and stay with the person

    Health Canada says to call 9-1-1, give naloxone and stay. Naloxone can wear off before the opioids do.

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