This report was commissioned to help Waterloo Region develop a business case for more purposeful proactive responses to homelessness by identifying social/economic cost/benefit estimates specific to Waterloo Region and the Regional Municipality of Waterloo (the Region). In addition to living on the streets, people experiencing persistent homelessness often cycle through costly public services such as emergency shelters, the emergency and institutional health system, and the judicial system. In short, there is a significant cost related to doing nothing to reduce or eliminate persistent homelessness. (excerpt from the report)