According to a recent study, racism is a major barrier for aboriginals when it comes to finding a place to live in Red Deer.

Native American Studies professor at the University of Lethbridge Linda Many Guns was at the Red Deer Public Library on Friday to speak about her three-month study where she collected data on the problems of homelessness among natives.

Over the three months, Many Guns gathered information through questionnaires, taped interviews and commissioned a $28,000 survey, funded by the City of Red Deer.

“What shocked me the most was finding out that aboriginal people are still faced with the systemic and social barriers to housing that have been around forever like racism.”

“As long as it stays there, people who have got houses to rent, won’t rent to aboriginal people of that stereotype.”

Another factor playing a major role in homelessness Many Guns says, is how long it takes for natives to get proper identification.

“Status cards take months and months. I’ve had people say that their status card expires by the time they get it.”

“When you don’t drive, you don’t have a driver’s licence and when you don’t have a bank card, it’s a gigantic barrier. If you can’t get a status card, you’re done and going to be on the street.”

Many Guns teamed up with Shining Mountains Living Community Services, the Red Deer Native Friendship Society and Métis Urban Housing to work on the study.

The group formed the Aboriginal Voices on Housing Network.