This study examines shelter use in Calgary between 2009 and 2024, tracking 52,129 individuals to explore how long people stay in emergency shelters and how patterns have changed over time. It finds that while most people spend 30 nights or fewer in shelters, rising rents and declining housing affordability are linked to longer stays. The study highlights the need for policies that improve housing affordability, alongside shelter diversion strategies that help people retain or regain housing and reduce the length of shelter stays.
