Who Is Homeless in Canada?

Many of us have an idea of who experiences homelessness and why. These ideas can come from a variety of places, including our own experiences, those of family or friends, or through the things we see in the media. These different sources of information shape our ideas about who we think a “typical homeless person” is. The reality is, there is no such thing as a “typical” person experiencing homelessness, and the population is incredibly diverse; no one is absolutely safe from experiencing homelessness. 

We tend to think of homelessness as a big city problem, but the causes of homelessness can affect people living anywhere in Canada, both in urban and rural areas. Every community in Canada has people experiencing homelessness, even if you don't see them on the street. Most people experiencing homelessness don't actually live on the streets, but find themselves living temporarily with friends or family or staying in emergency shelters.

In this context, the personal circumstances that may lead to homelessness are many and can afflict people from virtually every community. People become unhoused when individual and family problems become insurmountable. This may include catastrophic events; loss of employment; family break up; family violence; onset of mental or other debilitating illnesses; substance use by oneself or family members; a history of physical, sexual or emotional abuse; and, involvement in the child welfare system.

Yet we must remember that it is not just individual factors that explain homelessness. Homelessness also represents the failure of support systems–for example, the weakening of our social safety net. If we have adequate housing, income and supports, people who experience crises can avoid homelessness or at least experience homelessness for only a short time.

Although anyone can experience homelessness, not all groups are equally impacted. Some groups are more likely to experience homelessness, while others face specific challenges in securing safe, affordable, permanent housing. Understanding who is most at risk of homelessness and why allows us to tailor services to their needs, which is a crucial step in preventing and ending homelessness.

Indigenous Peoples experience homelessness at a hugely disproportionate rate. While making up only 5% of the Canadian population according to the 2021 census, 35% of homeless individuals identified as Indigenous during the 2020-2022 national Point-in-Time count. Because Indigenous people are also more likely to experience unsheltered and hidden homelessness, the real rate of Indigenous homelessness is likely higher, since they are less likely to be counted.

Black communities are also disproportionately impacted by homelessness. Although only 4.3% of Canadians identified as Black in the 2021 census, 15.4% of youth experiencing homelessness are Black, according to the second Without a Home survey. Black people are also twice as likely as white people to experience unsheltered homelessness, as indicated by the 2018 Canadian Housing Survey.

Although over 60% of those experiencing homelessness are men, women and gender-diverse people face distinct challenges. They are underserved by the homelessness sector, which is mostly set up to cater to single, adult men. Estimates of women’s homelessness in Canada are likely to be significantly undercounted because women are more likely to experience hidden homelessness. This means they are less likely to access homelessness services (due in part to the lack of gender-specific services) and more likely to rely on relational supports to avoid experiencing unsheltered homelessness. This often involves staying in precarious or unsafe situations.

Youths also experience special challenges around housing and homelessness, due to their young age and vulnerability. About 20% of the Canadian homeless population is between the ages of 13 and 24. Crucially, 40% of homeless youth have their first experience of homelessness before age 16, and 46% of chronically homeless adults had their first experience of homelessness before the age of 25. This means that addressing youth homelessness is the key to preventing homelessness in general.

Among homeless youths, 24% identify as 2SLGBTQ, despite the fact that 2SLGBTQ youths make up only 5-10% of all youths. Homophobia and discrimination are likely to be a part of their housing journey, including in the homelessness sector. Shelter access is limited for trans and gender-diverse youth, and 2SLGBTQ youth who experience homelessness have poorer overall outcomes while reporting fewer supports than straight youth. 2SLGBTQ people are more than twice as likely to experience unsheltered homelessness than straight, cisgendered people, while queer women specifically were four times as likely. 

Understanding the factors that lead to homelessness is not easy, considering how diverse the population is and the many pathways to homelessness.  People become homeless for many different reasons. It follows, then, that the services and supports that prevent homelessness as well as help people move forward with their lives must also take account of such differences.