Collections

2SLGBTQ+

Extensive research has focused on youth homelessness, yet little is known about the experiences of 2SLGBTQ youth in Canada. Initiatives to end homelessness must address this critical gap in understanding.

Black Communities

In Canada, Black communities endure the highest rate of homelessness among racialized groups, with youth being significantly impacted. Unsheltered homelessness is twice as likely for Black individuals, particularly Black women.

Cost of Ending Homelessness

Investing in affordable housing can reduce homelessness costs and improve lives for Canada's most vulnerable populations.

Direct Cash Transfers

Direct Cash Transfers aim to prevent people from becoming homeless by providing financial support.

Duty to Assist

Duty to Assist mandates local authorities to make reasonable efforts to end homelessness or stabilize housing, promoting the right to housing and homelessness prevention.

Education, Training & Employment

Inadequate income, employment and education are well-documented as contributing factors for people cycling in and out of homelessness. Solving these issues would create possibilities of moving out of homelessness.

Families with Children

Structural issues like unaffordable housing, low wages, and inadequate government assistance contribute to the risk of family homelessness.

Family and Natural Supports

Family and Natural Supports (FNS) strengthens relationships between at-risk youth (13-24) and their families or other adults to prevent homelessness.

Health

Hidden Homeless

Hidden homelessness, or couch surfing, involves people living temporarily with others without stable housing. They often go uncounted in homelessness stats.

Homelessness 101

This section is a starting point for those researching or wanting to learn more about homelessness, particularly in Canada. We address definitions, statistics and common myths and questions. We also look at real costs of homelessness.

Host Homes and Respite Accommodation

Respite accommodation, or Host Homes programs, offer emergency support to young people at risk of homelessness, diverting them from shelters and protecting them from exploitation.

Housing First

Housing First quickly moves homeless individuals into permanent housing, then provides needed support services. This approach aids recovery and stability.

Housing First for Youth

Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) provides homeless youth (13-24) with immediate, safe housing and age-appropriate support for health, education, employment, and social inclusion.

How Many People Are Homeless in Canada?

In 2016, it was estimated that at least 235,000 Canadians experience homelessness in a given year. The actual number is potentially much higher.

Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous people in Canada, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, face homelessness at disproportionate rates and are often uncounted in official statistics.

Legal & Justice Issues

The research on legal and justice issues focuses on factors that may contribute to homelessness, including criminal victimization, discrimination, poverty, justice system involvement, and criminalized behaviour.

Making the Shift to Prevention

Governments and communities are shifting from managing homelessness to prevention, with key initiatives focusing on reducing inflows and returns.

Mental Health

People with poor mental health are more susceptible to the three main factors that can lead to homelessness: poverty, disaffiliation, and personal vulnerability.

Newcomers

Newcomers to Canada, including immigrants and refugees, face homelessness due to poverty, discrimination, unrecognized credentials, and delays in work permits.

People with Disabilities

Accurate numbers on homelessness among people with disabilities are lacking, but it's believed to be high. In 2016, 13% of Canadians with disabilities experienced hidden homelessness.

Population Groups

Everyone is at risk of homelessness. A job loss, a house fire, a natural disaster, a relationship breakdown all bring with them the risk of losing one’s home and becoming homeless.

Prevention

Addressing homelessness involves prevention, emergency response, and housing with supports. Canada is shifting from managing to preventing homelessness altogether.

Prevention Framework

A framework for homelessness prevention defines key strategies and systemic changes to reduce homelessness, emphasizing housing as a human right.

Prevention Legislation

Countries like Canada, Australia, and Germany are leading in homelessness prevention with policies and legislation emphasizing the right to housing.

Programs That Work

Effective interventions like Housing First and school-based programs prevent and reduce homelessness by providing both housing and support.

Racialized Communities

"Racialized person" refers to individuals negatively impacted by racial meanings attributed to them. This term, now preferred over "visible minority," acknowledges race as socially constructed through racism.

Rapid Rehousing

Rapid Rehousing is a short-term housing-led intervention designed to support individuals and families to quickly exit homelessness and return to housing in their community.

Reconnect

Reconnect is an early intervention program for youth (13-24) at risk of homelessness, helping them stay connected to family, community, and school to prevent homelessness.

Rural Populations & Northern Communities

Homelessness is often seen as an urban issue due to city investments in shelters and housing, but it's equally prevalent in rural and remote communities.

Seniors

Homelessness among seniors is rising, with causes including financial issues, health problems, and lack of affordable housing.

Service Provision

Services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness are best provided through a system of care approach that involves a variety of sectors, including criminal justice, child welfare, healthcare, education, housing and homelessness services.

Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking, distinct from sex work, involves exploitation via force, fraud, or coercion. Predominantly affecting women and girls, it's a major gendered issue.

Shelter Diversion & Eviction Prevention

Shelter diversion and eviction prevention are cost-effective interventions to end homelessness, providing immediate housing and support to prevent homelessness before it starts.

Single Men

Single men make up 62% of the homeless, with systemic issues like social housing shortages and inadequate support contributing to homelessness.

Substance Use & Addiction

The relationship between substance use and homelessness is complex. While rates of substance use are disproportionately high among those experiencing homelessness, homelessness cannot be explained by substance use alone.

The Housing Outreach Program – Collaboration

HOP-C addresses the problem of youth not being adequately supported as they attempt to transition out of homelessness.

Transition Supports for Youth Exiting Public Systems

A key driver of homelessness in Canada is the lack of transitional planning and supports for individuals exiting public systems. This section will focus on the biggest challenge: youth leaving child protection.

Typology of Prevention

Building on the Homelessness Prevention Framework, the typology described below outlines the various policies, practices, and interventions needed to prevent homelessness in Canada.

Upstream Canada

Upstream Canada prevents youth homelessness and school disengagement through early intervention, inspired by Australia's COSS Model, which partners with schools to identify high-risk youth early and provide support.

What Are the Causes of Homelessness?

Discover the challenges faced by individuals and families experiencing homelessness, highlighting their vulnerability and the critical need for adequate housing, income, and support systems.

What Is Homelessness?

Understand the complexity of homelessness in Canada, including diverse experiences and unique challenges faced by Indigenous peoples and youth, beyond mere housing instability.

Who Is Homeless in Canada?

Women, Girls, and Gender-Diverse People

Women and gender-diverse people are underserved in homelessness services, primarily designed for single men. Including domestic violence shelters shows higher rates.

Youth

Youth homelessness affects those aged 13-24 lacking stable housing and social supports for transitioning to adulthood, leaving them without consistent income or residence.

Youth Homelessness Prevention

Preventing youth homelessness requires targeted supports, improved family connections, and coordinated community involvement to help youth successfully transition to adulthood.