GITNUXREPORT 2026

Canada Homelessness Statistics

Canada's homelessness crisis worsened by 23% from 2018 to 2023, with over 234,000 people affected annually.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Affordable housing shortage causes 35% of homelessness cases.

Statistic 2

Mental health and addictions contribute to 50% of chronic homelessness entries.

Statistic 3

Family breakdown accounts for 25% of youth entering homelessness.

Statistic 4

Poverty affects 80% of homeless individuals prior to homelessness.

Statistic 5

Domestic violence drives 14% of women into homelessness.

Statistic 6

Unemployment rate among homeless is 45%, double the national average.

Statistic 7

System failures in child welfare contribute to 20-25% of youth homelessness.

Statistic 8

Rising rents (up 8.5% in 2023) displace 30% into homelessness.

Statistic 9

Incarceration leads to 15% of homelessness post-release.

Statistic 10

Lack of affordable housing units: shortage of 3.5 million by 2030.

Statistic 11

Addiction disorders in 65% of unsheltered homeless.

Statistic 12

Trauma history in 85% of homeless women.

Statistic 13

Intergenerational trauma affects 90% of Indigenous homeless.

Statistic 14

Low income (under $20k) in 70% pre-homelessness.

Statistic 15

Discrimination in housing market impacts 40% of racialized applicants.

Statistic 16

Foreclosure rates up 20% correlating to homelessness in 2023.

Statistic 17

Gambling addiction linked to 10% of male homelessness.

Statistic 18

Poor health outcomes precede 55% of homelessness cases.

Statistic 19

School expulsion contributes to 12% youth homelessness.

Statistic 20

In Toronto, 45% cite high rent as primary cause.

Statistic 21

Vancouver: 60% substance use as entry factor.

Statistic 22

Calgary: 35% job loss trigger.

Statistic 23

Montreal: 28% family conflict.

Statistic 24

Ottawa: 50% mental health.

Statistic 25

COVID-19 eviction moratorium end caused 10% spike in 2022.

Statistic 26

Women make up 32% of the homeless shelter population in Canada as of 2022.

Statistic 27

Indigenous peoples comprise 30-40% of urban homeless shelter users despite being 5% of population.

Statistic 28

20% of homeless Canadians are youth under 25 years old.

Statistic 29

Men account for 68% of individuals using homeless shelters annually.

Statistic 30

25% of homeless individuals have children under 18 living with them periodically.

Statistic 31

LGBTQ2+ individuals are 2-4 times more likely to experience homelessness, representing 25-40% of youth homeless.

Statistic 32

40% of homeless Canadians identify as Indigenous, with higher rates in Western provinces.

Statistic 33

Seniors over 55 make up 22% of homeless population, increasing from 11% in 2005.

Statistic 34

Black Canadians are overrepresented at 8.5% of Toronto's homeless vs 8.8% population.

Statistic 35

15% of homeless are new immigrants or refugees within first 5 years in Canada.

Statistic 36

Mental illness affects 70% of homeless individuals in Canada.

Statistic 37

50% of homeless youth identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

Statistic 38

In Vancouver, 42% of homeless are Indigenous.

Statistic 39

Toronto homeless: 38% racialized, 28% Black.

Statistic 40

30% of Calgary homeless are women.

Statistic 41

Montreal: 25% of homeless are women, 20% youth.

Statistic 42

Ottawa: 35% Indigenous homeless.

Statistic 43

Edmonton: 45% of homeless have mental health issues.

Statistic 44

Winnipeg: 70% Indigenous homeless population.

Statistic 45

Halifax: 40% of homeless are African Nova Scotian or Indigenous.

Statistic 46

Hamilton: 25% youth under 24 homeless.

Statistic 47

Regina: 85% Indigenous homeless.

Statistic 48

Saskatoon: 75% Indigenous.

Statistic 49

Quebec City: 15% women homeless.

Statistic 50

London: 20% visible minorities.

Statistic 51

Victoria: 38% Indigenous homeless.

Statistic 52

National: 35% of homeless have disabilities.

Statistic 53

28% of homeless are employed but still homeless.

Statistic 54

Federal government allocated $4 billion over 10 years for Housing Accelerator Fund in 2023.

Statistic 55

Reaching Home program funded $2.2 billion from 2017-2027 for homelessness initiatives.

Statistic 56

National Housing Strategy aims to eliminate chronic homelessness by 2027-2028.

Statistic 57

4,000 new shelter beds created federally 2021-2023.

Statistic 58

Housing First model housed 85% of participants long-term in pilots.

Statistic 59

Ontario's Homelessness Prevention Program assisted 50,000 households in 2022.

Statistic 60

BC's Homelessness Action Plan invested $1.2 billion since 2017.

Statistic 61

Alberta's $161 million AISH supports 20,000 at risk of homelessness.

Statistic 62

Quebec's 2,000 social housing units built annually for vulnerable.

Statistic 63

Manitoba Rapid Access Hub served 5,000 homeless in 2022.

Statistic 64

Federal Youth Homelessness Strategy pilots in 11 communities, housing 1,000+.

Statistic 65

Indigenous homelessness framework funded $225 million 2021-2024.

Statistic 66

Toronto Streets to Homes program permanently housed 5,000 since 2005.

Statistic 67

Vancouver's Housing 1000 initiative housed 650 by 2023.

Statistic 68

Calgary's Plan to End Homelessness housed 2,500 since 2008.

Statistic 69

Montreal's NAIMA model reduced chronic homelessness by 87% in participants.

Statistic 70

Ottawa's Managed Alcohol Program serves 70 clients, reducing hospitalizations 50%.

Statistic 71

Edmonton's Housing First housed 90% retention rate.

Statistic 72

Winnipeg's Bring It Home housed 1,200 families.

Statistic 73

National shelter funding: $500 million annually via provinces.

Statistic 74

Rapid re-housing success: 70% housed 2+ years post-intervention.

Statistic 75

In 2023, an estimated 234,370 unique individuals experienced homelessness in Canada over the course of the year, equivalent to 59 per 10,000 people.

Statistic 76

On a single night in 2020, approximately 35,109 people were homeless across 61 Canadian communities according to Point-in-Time (PiT) counts.

Statistic 77

Chronic homelessness affects about 20% of all homeless individuals in Canada, totaling around 46,874 people annually based on 2023 estimates.

Statistic 78

Youth homelessness impacts 2.5% of Canadian youth aged 16-24, equating to roughly 70,000 young people experiencing it yearly.

Statistic 79

In 2022, hidden homelessness (e.g., couch-surfing) accounted for 73% of total homelessness experiences in surveyed Canadian cities.

Statistic 80

Canada's homeless population grew by 23% between 2018 and 2023 according to national shelter data analysis.

Statistic 81

Approximately 300,000 Canadians accessed emergency homeless shelters in 2021-2022 fiscal year.

Statistic 82

Unsheltered homelessness represents 12% of total homeless individuals on any given night in urban Canada.

Statistic 83

In 2023, 15% of homeless Canadians were living in absolute homelessness without shelter.

Statistic 84

Over 50,000 Indigenous people experience homelessness annually, making up 20-40% of shelter users despite being 5% of population.

Statistic 85

In Toronto, 9,055 people were counted homeless in the 2021 Point-in-Time count.

Statistic 86

National shelter bed occupancy averaged 91% in 2022, indicating severe capacity strain.

Statistic 87

Episodic homelessness affects 35% of homeless Canadians, cycling in and out multiple times per year.

Statistic 88

1 in 10 Canadians will experience homelessness in their lifetime according to longitudinal studies.

Statistic 89

In 2022, 8,492 people were homeless in Calgary's Point-in-Time count.

Statistic 90

Vancouver's 2023 count identified 2,238 homeless individuals on a single night.

Statistic 91

Montreal reported 2,967 homeless people in its 2022 Point-in-Time count.

Statistic 92

Ottawa's 2020 PiT count found 7,000 people experiencing homelessness.

Statistic 93

Edmonton counted 3,098 homeless individuals in 2022.

Statistic 94

Winnipeg's 2020 count enumerated 1,650 homeless people.

Statistic 95

Halifax reported 1,306 homeless in 2022 PiT count.

Statistic 96

Hamilton's 2021 count: 823 homeless individuals.

Statistic 97

Regina's 2022 PiT: 456 homeless people counted.

Statistic 98

Saskatoon's 2022 count: 589 homeless.

Statistic 99

Quebec City's 2021 PiT: 284 homeless individuals.

Statistic 100

London's 2021 count: 1,066 homeless.

Statistic 101

Victoria's 2023 count: 1,752 homeless on streets.

Statistic 102

Shelters turned away 1.4 million potential users in 2022 due to capacity.

Statistic 103

25% increase in family homelessness from 2018-2022 nationally.

Statistic 104

Veterans represent 2.5% of homeless population, about 5,859 individuals.

Statistic 105

In British Columbia, 65% of homeless are in Vancouver area.

Statistic 106

Ontario has 40% of Canada's total homeless population, around 93,748 annually.

Statistic 107

Alberta's homeless count: 12,000 on any given night in 2022.

Statistic 108

Quebec reports 25,000 experiencing homelessness yearly.

Statistic 109

Manitoba: Winnipeg accounts for 80% of provincial homeless, 1,320 nightly.

Statistic 110

Saskatchewan: 4,000 homeless province-wide, 75% Indigenous.

Statistic 111

Nova Scotia: 2,500 homeless, concentrated in Halifax.

Statistic 112

New Brunswick: 1,200 nightly homeless average.

Statistic 113

Newfoundland: St. John's 500 homeless in 2022 count.

Statistic 114

PEI: 300-400 experiencing homelessness annually.

Statistic 115

Territories: NWT has 1,000 homeless in Yellowknife alone.

Statistic 116

Toronto shelter usage: 10,000 monthly average in 2023.

Statistic 117

Vancouver streets: 2,000+ unsheltered daily.

Statistic 118

Calgary shelters serve 4,000 unique individuals yearly.

Statistic 119

Montreal itinerants: 3,000+ nightly in winter shelters.

Statistic 120

Ottawa: 1,100 shelter beds, 90% occupancy.

Statistic 121

Edmonton: 1,500 homeless in metro area nightly.

Statistic 122

Winnipeg: 2,000 shelter beds at capacity year-round.

Statistic 123

Hamilton: 800 nightly homeless count.

Statistic 124

Victoria: Highest per capita homelessness in Canada, 923 per 100k.

Statistic 125

Kelowna BC: 750 homeless in 2023 count.

Statistic 126

London ON: 1,200 experiencing homelessness yearly.

Statistic 127

Regina: 600 shelter users monthly.

Statistic 128

Saskatoon: 700 homeless nightly.

1/128

Sources

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Picture a city the size of Regina sleeping rough every night—that’s the stark reality behind Canada's homelessness crisis, where an estimated 234,370 unique individuals were without a home in 2023.

Key Takeaways

In 2023, an estimated 234,370 unique individuals experienced homelessness in Canada over the course of the year, equivalent to 59 per 10,000 people.
On a single night in 2020, approximately 35,109 people were homeless across 61 Canadian communities according to Point-in-Time (PiT) counts.
Chronic homelessness affects about 20% of all homeless individuals in Canada, totaling around 46,874 people annually based on 2023 estimates.
Women make up 32% of the homeless shelter population in Canada as of 2022.
Indigenous peoples comprise 30-40% of urban homeless shelter users despite being 5% of population.
20% of homeless Canadians are youth under 25 years old.
Affordable housing shortage causes 35% of homelessness cases.
Mental health and addictions contribute to 50% of chronic homelessness entries.
Family breakdown accounts for 25% of youth entering homelessness.
COVID-19 eviction moratorium end caused 10% spike in 2022.
In British Columbia, 65% of homeless are in Vancouver area.
Ontario has 40% of Canada's total homeless population, around 93,748 annually.
Alberta's homeless count: 12,000 on any given night in 2022.
Federal government allocated $4 billion over 10 years for Housing Accelerator Fund in 2023.
Reaching Home program funded $2.2 billion from 2017-2027 for homelessness initiatives.

Canada's homelessness crisis worsened by 23% from 2018 to 2023, with over 234,000 people affected annually.

Causes and Risk Factors

Affordable housing shortage causes 35% of homelessness cases.
Mental health and addictions contribute to 50% of chronic homelessness entries.
Family breakdown accounts for 25% of youth entering homelessness.
Poverty affects 80% of homeless individuals prior to homelessness.
Domestic violence drives 14% of women into homelessness.
Unemployment rate among homeless is 45%, double the national average.
System failures in child welfare contribute to 20-25% of youth homelessness.
Rising rents (up 8.5% in 2023) displace 30% into homelessness.
Incarceration leads to 15% of homelessness post-release.
Lack of affordable housing units: shortage of 3.5 million by 2030.
Addiction disorders in 65% of unsheltered homeless.
Trauma history in 85% of homeless women.
Intergenerational trauma affects 90% of Indigenous homeless.
Low income (under $20k) in 70% pre-homelessness.
Discrimination in housing market impacts 40% of racialized applicants.
Foreclosure rates up 20% correlating to homelessness in 2023.
Gambling addiction linked to 10% of male homelessness.
Poor health outcomes precede 55% of homelessness cases.
School expulsion contributes to 12% youth homelessness.
In Toronto, 45% cite high rent as primary cause.
Vancouver: 60% substance use as entry factor.
Calgary: 35% job loss trigger.
Montreal: 28% family conflict.
Ottawa: 50% mental health.

Causes and Risk Factors Interpretation

While society often points to personal failures, this cascade of grim statistics reveals homelessness to be the brutal endpoint of a collapsing social foundation, where poverty, trauma, and systemic neglect inevitably crash against an unaffordable housing market.

Causes and Risk Risk Factors

COVID-19 eviction moratorium end caused 10% spike in 2022.

Causes and Risk Risk Factors Interpretation

The end of Canada's pandemic eviction ban proved that for many, the safety net was really just a tightrope without one.

Demographics

Women make up 32% of the homeless shelter population in Canada as of 2022.
Indigenous peoples comprise 30-40% of urban homeless shelter users despite being 5% of population.
20% of homeless Canadians are youth under 25 years old.
Men account for 68% of individuals using homeless shelters annually.
25% of homeless individuals have children under 18 living with them periodically.
LGBTQ2+ individuals are 2-4 times more likely to experience homelessness, representing 25-40% of youth homeless.
40% of homeless Canadians identify as Indigenous, with higher rates in Western provinces.
Seniors over 55 make up 22% of homeless population, increasing from 11% in 2005.
Black Canadians are overrepresented at 8.5% of Toronto's homeless vs 8.8% population.
15% of homeless are new immigrants or refugees within first 5 years in Canada.
Mental illness affects 70% of homeless individuals in Canada.
50% of homeless youth identify as 2SLGBTQ+.
In Vancouver, 42% of homeless are Indigenous.
Toronto homeless: 38% racialized, 28% Black.
30% of Calgary homeless are women.
Montreal: 25% of homeless are women, 20% youth.
Ottawa: 35% Indigenous homeless.
Edmonton: 45% of homeless have mental health issues.
Winnipeg: 70% Indigenous homeless population.
Halifax: 40% of homeless are African Nova Scotian or Indigenous.
Hamilton: 25% youth under 24 homeless.
Regina: 85% Indigenous homeless.
Saskatoon: 75% Indigenous.
Quebec City: 15% women homeless.
London: 20% visible minorities.
Victoria: 38% Indigenous homeless.
National: 35% of homeless have disabilities.
28% of homeless are employed but still homeless.

Demographics Interpretation

These statistics reveal a Canada where the safe harbor of home is denied most cruelly to those already navigating the rough seas of systemic inequality, showing that homelessness is less a uniform crisis than a targeted national failure.

Policy and Services

Federal government allocated $4 billion over 10 years for Housing Accelerator Fund in 2023.
Reaching Home program funded $2.2 billion from 2017-2027 for homelessness initiatives.
National Housing Strategy aims to eliminate chronic homelessness by 2027-2028.
4,000 new shelter beds created federally 2021-2023.
Housing First model housed 85% of participants long-term in pilots.
Ontario's Homelessness Prevention Program assisted 50,000 households in 2022.
BC's Homelessness Action Plan invested $1.2 billion since 2017.
Alberta's $161 million AISH supports 20,000 at risk of homelessness.
Quebec's 2,000 social housing units built annually for vulnerable.
Manitoba Rapid Access Hub served 5,000 homeless in 2022.
Federal Youth Homelessness Strategy pilots in 11 communities, housing 1,000+.
Indigenous homelessness framework funded $225 million 2021-2024.
Toronto Streets to Homes program permanently housed 5,000 since 2005.
Vancouver's Housing 1000 initiative housed 650 by 2023.
Calgary's Plan to End Homelessness housed 2,500 since 2008.
Montreal's NAIMA model reduced chronic homelessness by 87% in participants.
Ottawa's Managed Alcohol Program serves 70 clients, reducing hospitalizations 50%.
Edmonton's Housing First housed 90% retention rate.
Winnipeg's Bring It Home housed 1,200 families.
National shelter funding: $500 million annually via provinces.
Rapid re-housing success: 70% housed 2+ years post-intervention.

Policy and Services Interpretation

A torrent of ambitious funding and promising pilot programs reveals a nation earnestly, and at times effectively, fighting the symptoms of homelessness, while still searching for the political courage to fully address the systemic causes.

Prevalence and Counts

In 2023, an estimated 234,370 unique individuals experienced homelessness in Canada over the course of the year, equivalent to 59 per 10,000 people.
On a single night in 2020, approximately 35,109 people were homeless across 61 Canadian communities according to Point-in-Time (PiT) counts.
Chronic homelessness affects about 20% of all homeless individuals in Canada, totaling around 46,874 people annually based on 2023 estimates.
Youth homelessness impacts 2.5% of Canadian youth aged 16-24, equating to roughly 70,000 young people experiencing it yearly.
In 2022, hidden homelessness (e.g., couch-surfing) accounted for 73% of total homelessness experiences in surveyed Canadian cities.
Canada's homeless population grew by 23% between 2018 and 2023 according to national shelter data analysis.
Approximately 300,000 Canadians accessed emergency homeless shelters in 2021-2022 fiscal year.
Unsheltered homelessness represents 12% of total homeless individuals on any given night in urban Canada.
In 2023, 15% of homeless Canadians were living in absolute homelessness without shelter.
Over 50,000 Indigenous people experience homelessness annually, making up 20-40% of shelter users despite being 5% of population.
In Toronto, 9,055 people were counted homeless in the 2021 Point-in-Time count.
National shelter bed occupancy averaged 91% in 2022, indicating severe capacity strain.
Episodic homelessness affects 35% of homeless Canadians, cycling in and out multiple times per year.
1 in 10 Canadians will experience homelessness in their lifetime according to longitudinal studies.
In 2022, 8,492 people were homeless in Calgary's Point-in-Time count.
Vancouver's 2023 count identified 2,238 homeless individuals on a single night.
Montreal reported 2,967 homeless people in its 2022 Point-in-Time count.
Ottawa's 2020 PiT count found 7,000 people experiencing homelessness.
Edmonton counted 3,098 homeless individuals in 2022.
Winnipeg's 2020 count enumerated 1,650 homeless people.
Halifax reported 1,306 homeless in 2022 PiT count.
Hamilton's 2021 count: 823 homeless individuals.
Regina's 2022 PiT: 456 homeless people counted.
Saskatoon's 2022 count: 589 homeless.
Quebec City's 2021 PiT: 284 homeless individuals.
London's 2021 count: 1,066 homeless.
Victoria's 2023 count: 1,752 homeless on streets.
Shelters turned away 1.4 million potential users in 2022 due to capacity.
25% increase in family homelessness from 2018-2022 nationally.
Veterans represent 2.5% of homeless population, about 5,859 individuals.

Prevalence and Counts Interpretation

Behind every statistic lies a silent, widening crack in our national foundation, where over a quarter of a million neighbors – from veterans to youth – are being cycled through a system of shelters at capacity, hidden couches, and city streets, while their numbers grow at a pace that mocks our collective conscience.

Regional Statistics

In British Columbia, 65% of homeless are in Vancouver area.
Ontario has 40% of Canada's total homeless population, around 93,748 annually.
Alberta's homeless count: 12,000 on any given night in 2022.
Quebec reports 25,000 experiencing homelessness yearly.
Manitoba: Winnipeg accounts for 80% of provincial homeless, 1,320 nightly.
Saskatchewan: 4,000 homeless province-wide, 75% Indigenous.
Nova Scotia: 2,500 homeless, concentrated in Halifax.
New Brunswick: 1,200 nightly homeless average.
Newfoundland: St. John's 500 homeless in 2022 count.
PEI: 300-400 experiencing homelessness annually.
Territories: NWT has 1,000 homeless in Yellowknife alone.
Toronto shelter usage: 10,000 monthly average in 2023.
Vancouver streets: 2,000+ unsheltered daily.
Calgary shelters serve 4,000 unique individuals yearly.
Montreal itinerants: 3,000+ nightly in winter shelters.
Ottawa: 1,100 shelter beds, 90% occupancy.
Edmonton: 1,500 homeless in metro area nightly.
Winnipeg: 2,000 shelter beds at capacity year-round.
Hamilton: 800 nightly homeless count.
Victoria: Highest per capita homelessness in Canada, 923 per 100k.
Kelowna BC: 750 homeless in 2023 count.
London ON: 1,200 experiencing homelessness yearly.
Regina: 600 shelter users monthly.
Saskatoon: 700 homeless nightly.

Regional Statistics Interpretation

In the grand, polite theatre of national priorities, Canada's homelessness crisis is a standing-room-only production playing to packed houses from coast to coast, where the tragic script repeats nightly and the leading roles are desperation and neglect.

Sources & References

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