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Everyone Counts 2024 Highlights Report Part 2 – Survey of people experiencing homelessness

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Everyone Counts 2024 Highlights Report Part 2 – Survey of people experiencing homelessness (PDF version)
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    Aussi disponible en français sous le titre : Tout le monde compte 2024 : Rapport sur les faits saillants Partie 2 — Sondage sur les personnes en situation d'itinérance

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    © His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Housing and Communities, 2025.

    Cat. No. T94-54/2025-2E-PDF
    ISBN  978-0-660-79286-6

Contents

Introduction

In October and November 2024, communities across nearly every province and territory participated in Everyone Counts, the fourth nationally coordinated Point-in-Time (PiT) Count of homelessness. The results from these Counts provide a snapshot of homelessness in communities across Canada. The PiT Counts included two components:

  • The PiT Count Enumeration: an estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness within a determined geographical area on a single night. It also identifies the location where they spent the night: in shelters, transitional housing, or unsheltered locations.
  • The Survey on Homelessness: a set of standardized survey questions that are administered directly to individuals experiencing homelessness. Respondents include those in unsheltered locations (including encampments), emergency shelters (including domestic violence shelters), transitional housing, health and correctional systems, and hidden homeless (e.g., people who are “couch surfing”).

The first three nationally coordinated PiT Counts were held in 2016, 2018, and 2020-2022. Key findings from the these Counts can be found at the following linked reports:

This report presents preliminary findings from the second component of the 2024 PiT Counts—the Survey on Homelessness. Communities in Quebec administered the Survey on Homelessness in April 2025. An updated report that includes Quebec's survey data is expected to be published in 2026. The Highlights Report – Part 1, published earlier in 2025, provides the corresponding enumeration data and is accessible through the following link:

PiT Counts provide a snapshot of homelessness in a community, including people experiencing homelessness in shelters and unsheltered locations, and those who are provisionally accommodated in transitional housing. They can also include people experiencing homelessness who are in health or correctional facilities or who are staying with others because they have no access to a permanent residence. PiT Counts provide a unique view of homelessness that reaches beyond those who are accessing homelessness services.

Acknowledgements

This report was prepared by Michelle Roberts, Sajidul Quayum, Rachel Campbell, Elissa Hajj, Emilie Gravel, and Patrick Hunter from Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC).

This report and the understanding of homelessness that we gain from PiT Counts in Canada would not be possible without the diligent work of community organizations, front-line workers, and volunteers. Most importantly, it would not be possible without the willing participation of people experiencing homelessness all across the country, for which we are very grateful.

Methodology

The Survey on Homelessness was administered to people aged 13 or older experiencing homelessness throughout 75 communities and regions as part of the fall 2024 PiT Counts. More information on methodology can be found in the Guide to PiT Counts and on the Core Standards page. Definitions of terms can be found in Annex C – Glossary, the Homelessness Glossary for Communities, on the Homelessness Learning Hub.

The 2024 survey encompassed 15 core questions, which were developed and refined over time in consultation with participating communities, people with lived experience of homelessness, academics and researchers, and professionals in the homelessness sector. These core questions can be found in Annex B – 2024 PiT Count survey form. In some cases, additional local questions were added at the community-level, which may be presented in local reports.

The survey data are anonymous and self-reported. Respondents have the option to skip questions, as well as withdraw from the survey at any time. Communities survey people experiencing homelessness in the following locations:

  • Unsheltered locations: streets, alleys, parks, transit stations, abandoned buildings, encampments, vehicles, ravines, and other outdoor locations where people experiencing homelessness are known to sleep.
  • Homeless shelters: emergency shelters, extreme weather shelters, domestic violence shelters.
  • Transitional housing: programs that provide longer-term housing solutions with supports intended to help individuals transition from homelessness to secure housing.
  • Hotels or motels: hotel or motel rooms that are provided to families or individuals experiencing homelessness in lieu of shelter beds.
  • Hidden homelessness: locations where people are living temporarily with others or accessing temporary accommodations, without guarantee of continued residency or access to a safe and permanent residence.
  • Systems or health and correctional institutions: hospitals, treatment centres, prisons, jails and detention centres that are regulated by either federal, provincial or municipal bodies.

This report contains analysis comparing the survey results from the 2024 PiT Counts to those from the 2020-2022 PiT Counts. These findings are based on the aggregate national results, including all communities which participated in each respective Count, unless otherwise stated. While the majority of communities participated in both counts, there were some differences. As a result, datasets from 2020-2022 and 2024 do not represent a one-to-one comparison in terms of geographic coverage. In each case, however, the results of the comparisons between the full national datasets were in line with the results comparing only the subset of communities that participated in both counts. In addition, further communities are expected to share their results in late 2025 and this report will be updated to reflect them.

Updates to the survey questions and methodology for 2024

The 2024 PiT Count Survey incorporated several updates to enhance flexibility in implementation and incorporate stakeholder feedback from previous counts. Communities were given the option to conduct the survey over an extended period of up to one month, and also to separate the survey from the enumeration component. Changes to the 2024 survey included the following:

  • The question on chronic homelessness in the past year was supplemented with a measure of homelessness experienced over the past three years.
  • The follow-up question on COVID-19 as a reason for recent housing loss was replaced with a question on eviction.
  • Sensory disabilities and acquired brain injuries were added to the health-related questions.
  • New response options for the question about newcomer experiences were added.

Additional information on the methodology for the 2024 nationally coordinated PiT Count approach can be found in Everyone Counts: A Guide to Point-in-Time Counts in Canada, 4th Edition.

Key findings

  1. More than 4 in 5 respondents (83%) reported experiencing chronic homelessness.
  2. Nearly half (47%) of respondents first experienced homelessness before the age of 25. This includes 14% who first experienced homelessness as children (under the age of 13), possibly as part of a family experiencing homelessness.
  3. Earlier experiences of homelessness were associated with a greater prevalence of chronic homelessness: rates of chronic homelessness were higher among respondents who first experienced homelessness before the age of 18 (87%) than among those who first experienced homelessness after they turned 18 (81%). This implies that early interventions for youth facing housing loss may reduce risk of long-term homelessness.
  4. Unaffordable housing was the most common reason people cited for losing their housing most recently across all ages, as 37% of respondents reported insufficient income for housing. Women were four times more likely to report losing their housing due to experiencing abuse from their spouse/partner (16%), in comparison to men (4%). More than one-third (38%) reported eviction as a factor contributing to their most recent housing loss.
  5. People who identified as Indigenous comprised one third (33%) of those surveyed through the PiT Counts, representing over six times the proportion of Indigenous people among the total Canadian population (5%).
  6. People who identified as members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community are overrepresented among survey respondents (14%, compared to 4.4% of the Canadian population). This proportion was higher among youth (25%).
  7. Approximately a quarter (24%) of respondents arrived in Canada as immigrants, refugees, asylum claimants, or temporary permit holders, which closely aligns with the Canadian population that is foreign-born (23%). Respondents who arrived in Canada as immigrants were generally long-term residents, whereas refugees and asylum claimants were more likely to be recent arrivals.
  8. One-quarter of respondents identified as members of racialized groups. Black respondents represented 17% of those surveyed, compared to 4% of the Canadian population.
  9. Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces accounted for 3% of respondents, with RCMP Veterans and those identifying as Veterans of both groups making up less than 1%, closely aligning with Veteran representation in the general Canadian population.
  10. More than a quarter (29%) of respondents reported having had experience with child welfare services. Higher rates were reported among Indigenous respondents, with nearly half (49%) reporting experience as youth in care.

Results

Over 31,000 people experiencing homelessness across 75 communities were surveyed through the PiT Count in 2024. Among communities which also participated in the preceding 2020-2022 PiT Counts, the number of people surveyed has increased by almost 50% since 2020-2022.

For detailed results, refer to Annex D – Overnight locations, rates of chronic homelessness, and year-over-year changes, by sociodemographic characteristics.

The vast majority (76.6%) of survey respondents who indicated their family composition on the night of the Count were single individuals over the age of 13. The remaining respondents indicated that they were with others, with 14.6% staying with only other adults (e.g., partners, siblings, friends), 2.5% experiencing homelessness as a family including dependents/children and a partner or other adults, and 6.3% single adults with dependents/children. Almost 3,900 dependents/children were reported by respondents, representing approximately 11% of the total of 35,000 people observed through the PiT survey.

The proportion of respondents experiencing homelessness as part of a family has increased since the 2020-2022 PiT Counts. In 2024, single parents and couples with dependents made up 9% of respondents (up from 5% in 2020-2022) and couples without dependents made up 8% of respondents (up from 5%).

Overnight location and current age of dependents/children were reported by the adult accompanying them. All other findings presented in the following sections reflect the 31,000 individuals who responded to the survey.

Overnight location

Out of 35,000 individuals reflected in the survey responses, 45.3% were staying in sheltered locations, 27.5% were staying in unsheltered locations (one third of whom were staying in encampments), 11.9% were experiencing hidden homelessness (e.g., staying at someone else's place because they had nowhere else to go), 8.7% were staying in transitional housing, 4.1% were staying in hotels or motels, and 2.5% were staying in facilities in public systems (e.g., hospitals, correctional facilities, or treatment centres).

Survey respondents who reported experiencing homelessness with one or more children or other dependents were more likely to be staying in sheltered locations (48%, versus 40% of those who reported having no dependents), hotels/motels (16%, versus 2%), and transitional housing (13%, versus 9%). Respondents with dependents/children were less likely to be experiencing unsheltered homelessness (9%, versus 33%).

Approximately 2.5% of survey respondents who indicated their family composition on the night of the Count reported that they were staying with one or more pets. Survey respondents who reported having pets staying with them were more likely to be staying in unsheltered locations (46%, versus 31% of those who reported having no pets), and experiencing hidden homelessness (16%, versus 12%). Respondents with pets were less likely to be staying in shelters (25%, versus 42%).

Demographic characteristics

Accompanied children aged 0-12 represented 7% of people observed through the PiT survey, youthFootnote 1 aged 13-24 represented 11%, adults aged 25-49 represented 58%, older adults aged 50-64 represented 21%, and seniors aged 65 and over represented 4%.

Accompanied children were more likely to be staying in hotels/motels (representing 21% of people recorded in these locations) and transitional housing (13%). Youth were more likely to be staying in transitional housing (19%) and experiencing hidden homelessness (15%). Adults aged 25-49 were more likely to be staying in public systems such as health and correctional facilities (72%) and unsheltered locations (69%). Older adults and seniors were more likely to be staying in shelters (representing 23% and 6% of those staying in shelters, respectively). These results are summarized in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Distribution of age group by overnight location
Figure 1. Distribution of age group by overnight location
  • Figure 1 - Text version
    Figure 1. Distribution of age group by overnight location
    Overnight location Child (0-12) Youth (13-24) Adult (25-49) Older adult (50-64) Senior (65+)
    Sheltered 8% 10% 53% 23% 6%
    Transitional 13% 19% 46% 18% 4%
    Unsheltered 1% 6% 69% 21% 3%
    Hotels/Motels 21% 11% 51% 14% 3%
    Systems 0% 11% 72% 14% 3%
    Hidden 6% 15% 58% 18% 3%

The majority (60%) of survey respondents identified as men, 37% identified as women, and 3% who identified as gender-diverse (note that gender was not reported for dependents). Women were more likely to report having children or other dependents staying with them (19%, compared to 3% of men and 3% of gender-diverse people).

Men were more likely to be staying in facilities of public systems such as health and corrections (representing 66% of people surveyed in these locations), and in unsheltered locations (65%). Women were more likely to be staying in hotels/motels (55%, over half of whom reported having dependents/children), transitional housing (45%), and experiencing hidden homelessness (45%). Gender-diverse people were more likely to be staying in systems (4%). These findings are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Distribution of gender identity by overnight location
Figure 2. Distribution of gender identity by overnight location
  • Figure 2 - Text version
    Figure 2. Distribution of gender identity by overnight location
    Overnight location Man Woman Gender diverse
    Sheltered 61% 36% 3%
    Transitional 53% 45% 3%
    Unsheltered 65% 32% 3%
    Hotels/Motels 44% 55% 1%
    Systems 66% 30% 4%
    Hidden 52% 45% 3%

The proportion of survey respondents that identify as women or gender-diverse declines with age. Almost half (45%) of youth aged 13-24 identify as girls and women, whereas 39% of adults aged 25-49 identify as women, 29% of older adults aged 50-64, and 26% of seniors aged 65 and above. Gender-diverse people make up 6% of youth, 3% of adults, 1% of older adults, and 1% of seniors.

As shown in Figure 3, gender-diverse people are proportionally more likely than cisgender people to be 32 years old or younger, women are more likely to be between 33 and 42 years old, and men are more likely to be aged 43 or older.

Figure 3. Age distribution by gender identity
Figure 3. Age distribution by gender identity
  • Figure 3 - Text version
    Figure 3. Age distribution by gender identity
    Current age Man Woman Gender-diverse
    13 to 17 0.8% 1.3% 2.1%
    18 to 22 4.1% 6.4% 12.8%
    23 to 27 7.9% 10.0% 14.8%
    28 to 32 11.2% 13.7% 17.6%
    33 to 37 13.4% 16.5% 15.2%
    38 to 42 13.7% 15.6% 12.3%
    43 to 47 12.6% 11.8% 9.8%
    48 to 52 10.3% 8.9% 5.3%
    53 to 57 9.8% 6.5% 4.6%
    58 to 62 8.1% 4.6% 2.8%
    63 to 67 4.7% 2.6% 1.2%
    68 to 72 2.2% 1.2% 0.9%
    73 to 77 0.8% 0.5% 0.1%
    78 to 82 0.2% 0.2% 0.5%
    83 and above 0.1% 0.1% 0.0%

Duration of homelessness

Homelessness over the past year

Respondents to the 2024 PiT survey were asked to indicate the amount of time they had experienced homelessness in the past year. Nearly three quarters (74%) of respondents reported experiencing homelessness for 6 months or more during the last year. This included nearly half (48%) of respondents who reported that they experienced homelessness throughout the whole year, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Duration of homelessness over the past 12 months, proportion of respondents
Figure 4. Duration of homelessness over the past 12 months, proportion of respondents
  • Figure 4 - Text version
    Figure 4. Duration of homelessness over the past 12 months, proportion of respondents
    Duration of homelessness ranges Proportion of respondents
    0-2 months 14%
    3-5 months 12%
    6-11 months 26%
    12 months 48%

When comparing the subset of 53 communities that also participated in the three most recent PiT Counts, the rate chronic homelessness in this count (74%) was similar to the rate reported in the 2020-2022 PiT Count (71%), and represents an increase relative to the 2018 PiT Count (61%).

Homelessness over the past three years

In order to align with the federal definition for chronic homelessness, the 2024 PiT Count survey added a follow-up question asking respondents whether they had experienced homelessness for more than 18 months in the past three years. In total 62% of respondents reported this prolonged instability over three years.

Chronic homelessness

The inclusion of both questions creates four mutually exclusive groups: those that experienced only acute chronic homelessness (6 months or more within the past year), those that experienced only prolonged chronic homelessness (18 months or more within the past three years), those who experienced both, and those that were not experiencing chronic homelessness.Footnote 2 Overall, 83% of respondents were identified as experiencing chronic homelessness. This includes individuals who met only the acute chronicity criterion (23%), only the prolonged instability criterion (8%), or the combined chronic homelessness (52%). The remaining 17% were not experiencing chronic homelessness. It is important to note that chronic homelessness percentages are always higher in point-in-time measures than annual measures because they do not capture the majority of people who experience brief periods of homelessness throughout the year.

The proportion of respondents identified by the one-year criteria and/or the three-year criteria as experiencing chronic homelessness was highest among those in unsheltered locations (92%), with the majority experiencing combined chronic homelessness (67%). Acute chronic homelessness without prolonged instability was most prevalent in hotel/motels (35%) and shelters (25%). Lower rates of chronic homelessness overall were observed among those staying in transitional housing locations (74%) and in hotel/motels (66%).

Overall rates of chronic homelessness were highest in the Northern region and lowest in the Atlantic.  Across all regions, combined chronic homelessness is the dominant category, ranging from 48% (Central) to 59% (Western). However, the relative prevalence of each experience of chronic homelessness differed somewhat by region, shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Rates of chronic homelessness by region
Figure 5. Rates of chronic homelessness by region
  • Figure 5 - Text version
    Figure 5. Rates of chronic homelessness by region
    Region Acute chronicity Combined chronic homelessness Prolonged instability
    Western 18% 59% 10%
    Northern 26% 53% 14%
    Central 25% 48% 8%
    Atlantic 23% 52% 4%
    National 22% 52% 8%

The Western region comprises the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The Northern region comprises the territories of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon. The Central region comprises the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, though data from Quebec is not included in the present version of this report. The Atlantic region comprises the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Overnight locations in the past year

Respondents were asked at which overnight locations they spent at least one night over the preceding year (including the survey night). The most common response was homeless shelters (reported by 69% of respondents), followed by unsheltered public spaces (50%), someone else's place (43%), encampments (31%), hospitals or other health facilities (28%), hotels or motels (21%), transitional housing (19%), vehicles (18%), correctional facilities (18%), and treatment or detox centres (4%). The prevalence of respondents who have stayed at each type of overnight location within the past year is shown in Figure 6.

Conversely, the rate of accessing shelter also indicates that 31% of 2024 PiT survey respondents did not spend a single night in shelter in the past year. The findings from the PiT Count survey in 2020-2022 indicate that approximately one quarter (25%) of respondents did not spend a night in a shelter in the year prior to the survey, indicating an increase in the proportion of people not using homeless shelters.

Figure 6. Prevalence of overnight locations reported within the past year
Figure 6. Prevalence of overnight locations reported within the past year
  • Figure 6 - Text version
    Figure 6. Prevalence of overnight locations reported within the past year
    Overnight location Proportion of respondents
    Someone else's place 43%
    Hospital or other health facility 28%
    Treatment centre 4%
    Correctional facility 18%
    Homeless shelter 69%
    Hotel/motel 21%
    Transitional housing 19%
    Encampments 31%
    Vehicles 18%
    Other unsheltered locations 50%

One advantage of Point-in-Time Counts is that they are able to reach those who may not have accessed formal homelessness services, in particular those who are only staying in unsheltered locations and those who are experiencing hidden homelessness.

Of those experiencing unsheltered homelessness (in encampments, vehicles, or other unsheltered public spaces) on the night of the survey, 56% accessed overnight accommodation in the homeless-serving sector (shelters, transitional housing, program-funded hotels/motels) during the past year, 42% stayed at someone else's place, and 40% stayed in a facility of public health or correctional systems. Just over a quarter (28%) of those experiencing unsheltered homelessness on the night of the survey had only experienced homelessness in unsheltered locations during the past year. Out of all survey respondents, 8% had only experienced homelessness in unsheltered locations during the past year.

Of the 12% who were experiencing hidden homelessness on the night of the survey, two thirds (66%) experienced visible homelessness in shelters, transitional housing, or unsheltered locations in the past year.

Survey respondents experiencing chronic homelessness were more likely than those not experiencing chronic homelessness to have stayed in every overnight location, with the exception of transitional housing. People experiencing chronic homelessness were more than twice as likely as non-chronically homeless respondents to have stayed in an encampment in the past year (37% versus 15%), and were almost twice as likely as non-chronically homeless respondents to have stayed in a correctional institution in the past year (20% versus 11%).

Age of first homelessness experience

Early experiences of homelessness (before the age of 25) were experienced by 47% percent of respondentsFootnote 3 (14% were children aged 12 or under, 17% were youth aged 13 to 17, 16% were young adults aged 18 to 24), which is similar to the finding from the 2020-2022 Counts (47%Footnote 4). These first experiences of homelessness may have occurred with family members or as an unaccompanied youth. First experiences of homelessness can happen at any age. Forty percent indicated that they were adults aged 25 to 49 at their first experience, 11% were older adults aged 50 to 64, and 2% were seniors aged 65 or older.

Earlier experiences of homelessness are associated with a greater prevalence of chronic homelessness: 87% of respondents who first experienced homelessness before the age of 18 reported experiencing chronic homelessness, compared to 83% of those who first experienced homelessness between the ages of 18 and 24, 81% of those who first experienced homelessness between the ages of 25 and 49, 78% of those who first experienced homelessness between the ages of 50 and 64, and 68% of those who first experienced homelessness after the age of 65. This implies that early interventions, and particularly prevention measures for youth facing imminent housing loss may reduce risk of chronic homelessness.

Current episode of homelessness and reasons for housing loss

Survey respondents were asked to identify the reasons contributing to their most recent housing loss, whether that loss was related to an eviction, and the timing of that loss.

The most frequently identified contributing factor cited for housing loss was not having enough income for housing (37%), followed by conflicts with spouse or partner (16%), substance use issues (13%), and conflicts with landlord (12%). Women were four times as likely to report losing their housing due to experiencing abuse from their spouse/partner (16%) in comparison to men (4%). These same factors were most common in the 2020-2022 PiT Count, but reports of housing loss due to insufficient income have increased (from 28% to 37%) since 2020-2022, while reports linked to substance use have decreased (from 18% to 13%).

Unaffordable housing relative to income was the most common reason for housing loss across all age groups, with the proportion increasing steadily with age, as shown in Table 1. Youth respondents were also likely to report recently losing their housing due to conflicts with parents/guardians (32%).

Table 1. Most commonly reported reasons for recent housing loss, by age group
Reason for housing loss Youth (13-24) Adult (25-49) Older adult (50-64) Seniors (65+)
1st Insufficient income for housing (34%) Insufficient income for housing (36%) Insufficient income for housing (38%) Insufficient income for housing (42%)
2nd Conflict with parent / guardian (32%) Conflict with spouse / partner (18%) Conflict with spouse / partner (15%) Conflict with landlord (15%)
3rd Unsafe housing condition (15%) Substance use issues (15%) Conflict with landlord (14%) Conflict with spouse / partner (11%)
4th Experienced abuse by parent / guardian (12%) Conflict with landlord (12%) Unsafe housing condition (12%) Unsafe housing condition (11%)
5th Relocated (11%) Unsafe housing condition (11%) Substance use issues (11%) Building sold / renovated (9%)

More than one-third (38%) reported eviction as a contributing factor. Those who reported eviction were more likely to cite not having enough income (40% vs. 32%), landlord/tenant conflict (21% vs. 6%), and substance use issues (16% vs. 11%) as reasons for housing loss compared to those who did not report eviction.

The prevalence of eviction as a reason for housing loss was highest among those staying in unsheltered locations (46%), followed by those staying in systems (39%), hidden homelessness (38%) and in shelters (34%). Age-related differences were also evident, with eviction increasing from youth (25%) to adults (38%) to older adults (42%) and seniors (41%).

Eviction was also more common among those with a higher number of reported difficulties related to health or daily functioning. Those with no reported difficulties were least likely to report an eviction (20%), compared with those who reported 1 to 2 difficulties (35%) and those who reported 3 or more (45%).

Veterans (44%, compared with 36% of non-Veterans), prior youth in care (43%, compared with 35% of people without experience as youth in care), and Indigenous respondents (42%, compared with 35% of non-Indigenous respondents) were more likely to cite eviction as a reason for housing loss.

When asked about their current episode of homelessness, nearly half (49%) of respondents reported losing their housing within the past 12 months. An additional 17% had lost their housing between one and two years ago, while 34% had been without housing for three years or longer. Women were more likely to have lost their housing within the past year (54%) compared to men and gender-diverse respondents (both 46%).

Lived experiences of disability and health

The most common difficulties reported by survey respondents were related to substance use issues (reported by 60% of respondents), mental health issues (60%), illnesses or medical conditions (39%), physical mobility (37%), learning, intellectual, developmental, or cognitive function (31%), senses, such as seeing or hearing (28%), and acquired brain injuries (22%).

Comorbidity refers to the coexistence of multiple conditions at the same time. While the presence of any one condition increased the likelihood of experiencing all other conditions among survey respondents, certain conditions were shown through bivariate correlation to have more pronounced rates of coincidence. It is important to consider that comorbidity does not necessarily mean that there is a causal relationship between these issues.

Difficulties related to physical mobility were associated with an increased prevalence of illnesses or medical conditions (77%) and difficulties related to the senses (47%). Presence of an acquired brain injury was associated with increased prevalence of mental health issues (82%), substance use issues (82%), and difficulties related to learning, intellectual/developmental, or cognitive function (59%).

Living with any given difficulty related to health or daily functioning is associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing unsheltered homelessness on the night surveyed. In particular, 40% of people experiencing substance use issues were unsheltered on the night of the Count, compared with 13% without substance use issues.

Similarly, living with any given difficulty related to health or daily functioning is associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing chronic homelessness. More specifically, 89% of people experiencing substance use issues reported experiencing chronic homelessness (compared with 73% without substance use issues), 86% of people experiencing mental health issues were chronically homeless (compared with 78%), and 89% of people with an acquired brain injury were chronically homeless (compared with 80%).

The prevalence of illnesses or medical conditions, physical mobility difficulties, and difficulties related to the senses increases with age. Conversely, the prevalence of difficulties related to learning, intellectual/developmental, or cognitive function among respondents decreases with age. Adults aged 25 to 49 are more likely than other age groups to report experiencing substance use or mental health issues. Older adults between the ages of 50 and 64 were more likely than other age groups to report having an acquired brain injury.

Experience as youth in care

Over one quarter (29%) of respondents reported having had experience as youth in care, such as foster care, group homes, or provincial child welfare programs. The proportion of respondents with experience as youth in care was higher among Indigenous respondents, with nearly half (49%) reporting this experience, compared to 28% of non-Indigenous Canadian-born respondents, and 5% of non-Indigenous newcomers to Canada.

People with lived experience as youth in care were more likely to be experiencing homelessness in health or correctional systems (representing 41% of those surveyed in these locations), unsheltered homelessness (38%) and hidden homelessness (34%). Conversely, people with experience as youth in care were less likely to stay in transitional housing (26%) or shelters (22%).

People with experience as youth in care were more likely to experience chronic homelessness: 79% of prior youth in care report experiencing acute chronicity, compared with 73% of those without experience as youth in care, and 71% of prior youth in care report experiencing prolonged instability, compared with 56% of those without experience as youth in care. Furthermore, 62% of prior youth in care report experiencing combined chronic homelessness, characterized by both acute chronicity and prolonged instability, compared with 49% of those without experience as youth in care.

Experiences as youth in care were associated with first losses of housing occurring earlier in life: 65% of prior youth in care first experienced homelessness before the age of 25, compared with 33% of those without experience as youth in care.

Mobility between communities

Respondents were asked about any experience of coming from another community and their duration of time within the present community. The majority of respondents had either always lived in the community (27%) or arrived more than five years ago (32%). The remaining respondents had either come to the community within the last 5 years  39%), or did not know when they arrived in the community (2%).

Those who arrived in the community five or more years ago were more likely to have first experienced homelessness after arriving (63%). For those who arrived in the community within the past five years, only 7% first experienced homelessness after arriving. Instead, 42% had first experienced homelessness prior to their arrival in the community and 50% first experienced homelessness within a year before or after their arrival.

Sources of income

Respondents were asked to indicate their sources of income,, and could select as many options as were applicable or indicate other income sources. The majority (81%) of respondents reported receiving formal income support, such as employment insurance, disability benefits, seniors’ benefits, Veterans’ benefits, welfare or social assistance, child and family tax benefits, GST/HST refunds, or other money from service agencies (including funding for employment and skills development programs). Income from full-time, part-time, or casual/contract employment was reported by 11% of respondents. Income from informal sources, such as money from family/friends, bottle returns, busking, panhandling, and sex work, was reported by 11% of respondents. One in ten respondents (11%) reported having no income in the past year.

The proportion of respondents reporting each income source, in order of prevalence, is shown in Table 2.

Table 2. Most to least common income sources reported
Income type Income source Prevalence (proportion of respondents)
Income support Welfare/social assistance 47%
Income support Disability benefits 25%
Informal income sources Informal work (e.g., bottle returns, panhandling, sex work) 8%
Income support GST/HST refund 7%
Income support Seniors' benefits (CPP/OAS/GIS) 6%
Employment Part-time employment 4%
Informal income sources Money from family/friends 4%
Employment Full-time employment 3%
Employment Casual employment 3%
Income support Child and family tax benefits 3%
Income support Employment Insurance 2%
Income support Other money from service agency 2%
Income support Veterans' benefits (VAC) <1%

Disability benefits were reported by 20% of respondents with 1 or 2 difficulties related to health or daily functioning and 36% of those with 3 or more. This finding implies that there may be a gap in the uptake of disability benefits by some individuals experiencing homelessness for which they may be eligible.

The proportion of respondents who report receiving income support increases with age, whereas the proportion who report having no income, as well as the proportion who report employment income, decreases with age, as shown in Table 3. Income obtained through informal means is most common among adults aged 25-49 (12%), followed by youth aged 13 to 24 (12%), older adults aged 50 to 64 (10%), and seniors aged over 65 (6%).

Table 3. Types of income reported by age group
Income type Youth (13-24) Adult (25-49) Older Adult (50-64) Senior (65+)
No income 19% 10% 7% 4%
Income support 67% 80% 86% 93%
Employment 16% 11% 8% 5%
Informal income 12% 12% 10% 6%

Youth aged 13 to 24 were over three times as likely as respondents aged 25 and older to report receiving other money from a local service agency (6%, compared with 2%), over twice as likely to report income from part-time employment (9%, compared to 4%), and almost twice as likely to report receiving money from family or friends (7%, compared with 4%).

Older adults between the ages of 50 and 64 were almost twice as likely to report receiving disability benefits as other age groups (38%, compared with 12% of youth, 24% of adults, and 13% of seniors). Almost three quarters (74%) of seniors above the age of 65 reported receiving seniors benefits (such as CPP, OAS, and GIS payments).

Together, these findings suggest that there may be opportunities to connect some individuals experiencing homelessness with financial supports for which they may be eligible, including social assistance, seniors’ benefits, or disability benefits.

2SLGBTQI+

Members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community include those who identified as gender-diverse and those who reported a sexual identity other than straight/heterosexual. Members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community comprise 14% of all survey respondents, indicating an overrepresentation compared the general population (4% of whom identify as 2SLGBTQI+).Footnote 5 The proportion of respondents identifying as 2SLGBTQI+ remained fairly consistent since the 2020-2022 PiT Count (13%).

The proportion of respondents identifying as 2SLGBTQI+ decreased with age. People who identified as members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community represented 25% of youth aged 13 to 24, 16% of adults aged 25 to 49, 6% of older adults aged 50 to 64, and 5% of seniors aged 65 and above.

People who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ were more likely to experience homelessness for the first time earlier in life. As shown in Figure 7, over half of 2SLGBTQI+ respondents first lost their housing before the age of 25 (52%) compared to 40% of non-2SLGBTQI+ respondents.

Figure 7. Age of first experience of homelessness by 2SLGBTQI+ identity
Figure 7. Age of first experience of homelessness by 2SLGBTQI+ identity
  • Figure 7 - Text version
    Figure 7. Age of first experience of homelessness by 2SLGBTQI+ identity
    2SLGBTQI+ identity Child (0-12) Teen (13-17) Young adult (18-24) Adult (25-49) Older adult (50-64) Senior (65+)
    Non-2SLGBTQI+ 7% 16% 17% 45% 13% 2%
    2SLGBTQI+ 8% 22% 22% 42% 5% 1%

People who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ were more likely than people who do not identify as 2SLGBTQI+ to report experiencing abuse by, discrimination by, or conflict with a parent or guardian as the reason for their most recent housing loss (reported by 16% of 2SLGBTQI+ respondents, compared to 9% of non-2SLGBQTI+ respondents). They were also more likely to report relocation or leaving their community (17%, compared to 8%), a mental health issue (13%, compared with 8%), or experiencing abuse from their spouse or partner (12%, compared with 8%) as the reason for housing loss. Conversely, people who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ were less likely than people who do not identify as 2SLGBTQI+ to report not having enough income as a reason for housing loss (30%, compared with 37%).

People who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ were more likely to report experiencing all health challenges, with the exception of physical limitations and substance use issues. Almost three quarters (74%) of people identifying as 2SLGBTQI+ reported having a mental health issue, compared with 58% of those who do not. Additionally, 41% of 2SLGBTQI+ people reported having a difficulty affecting learning, intellectual, developmental or cognitive function (compared to 29%).

Indigenous peoples

People who identify as Indigenous comprised one third (33%) of the population surveyed through the PiT Counts, including 26.6% who identified as First Nations, 5.1% who identified as Métis, and 1.5% who identified as Inuit. This is more than six times the proportion of Indigenous people among the total Canadian population (5%), according to the 2021 Census.Footnote 6 This overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples experiencing homelessness reveals a persistent structural inequity in access to safe and stable housing. A further 2.9% of survey respondents indicated that they had Indigenous ancestry, although did not identify specifically as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit.

Among the subset of communities that participated in the PiT Counts in 2024 and 2020-2022, the proportion of survey respondents identifying as Indigenous decreased from 36% in 2020-2022 to 31% in 2024.

People who identify as First Nations were more likely to experience hidden homelessness (representing 43% of survey respondents reporting this overnight location), homelessness in health or correctional systems (43%), and unsheltered homelessness (34%). The representation of respondents who identified as Métis was highest among those experiencing hidden homelessness (10%) and those in unsheltered locations (6%). Representation of Inuit respondents was highest among those in transitional housing (2%). These findings are shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8. Indigenous identity by overnight location
Figure 8. Indigenous identity by overnight location
  • Figure 8 - Text version
    Figure 8. Indigenous identity by overnight location
    Indigenous identity Sheltered Transitional Unsheltered Hotels/Motels Systems Hidden
    First Nations 18% 19% 34% 9% 43% 43%
    Inuit 1% 2% 1% 0% 1% 1%
    Métis 3% 2% 6% 2% 3% 10%

Rates of chronic homelessness tended to be higher among Indigenous respondents, reported by 91% of Inuit respondents, 89% of Métis respondents, and 88% of First Nations respondents, compared with 82% of non-Indigenous Canadian-born respondents and 73% of non-Indigenous newcomers.

Men represented 56% of Indigenous respondents, lower than the proportion among non-Indigenous Canadian-born respondents (66%). This was due to a higher percentage of women among Indigenous respondents (41%, compared with 31% among non-Indigenous Canadian-born respondents), and a higher percentage of gender-diverse people (4%, compared with 2%). The gender distribution among respondents with a newcomer experience was similar to that for Indigenous respondents, as men represented 55%, women represented 43%, and gender-diverse people represented 2%. Indigenous respondents were twice as likely as non-Indigenous Canadian-born respondents to have experienced homelessness for the first time before the age of 25 (56% of Indigenous respondents, compared with 41% of non-Indigenous Canadian-born respondents).

Indigenous respondents were more likely to report experiencing difficulties related to substance use issues (79%, compared with 67% of non-Indigenous people born in Canada), an acquired brain injury (29%, compared with 24%), the senses, such as deafness or blindness (35%, compared with 31%), and learning, intellectual/developmental, or cognitive function (38%, compared with 35%). Indigenous respondents were similarly likely, compared to non-Indigenous people born in Canada, to report experiencing difficulties related to illnesses or medical conditions (43% and 44%) and physical mobility (42% for both groups). They were less likely to report experiencing mental health issues (64%, compared with 69%).

Homelessness and newcomer experience

Respondents were asked if they had come to Canada as an immigrant, refugee, asylum claimant or as a temporary resident. More than three quarters (76%) reported being Canadian-born, while 24% of respondents had arrived in Canada as immigrants (7%), refugees (7%), asylum claimants (7%), or temporary permit holders (3%). This is similar to the 26% of individuals identified in the 2021 Census as foreign-born [current or former landed immigrants or permanent residents (23%), or non-permanent residentsFootnote 7 (3%)].Footnote 8

The proportion of respondents with a newcomer experience has grown since the 2020-2022 PiT Counts. In particular, there has been an increase the proportion of survey respondents identifying as refugees (from 2% to 7%) and asylum claimants (from 2% to 7%). This growth has also been documented in a recent report: Homelessness and immigration in Canada from 2020 – 2023.

Respondents with a newcomer experience made up the majority of respondents in hotel/motel programs (58%), and approximately a third of those in shelters (35%) and transitional housing (31%). Compared with the 2020-2022 PiT Counts, this represents a doubling in the percentage of respondents with newcomer experiences in these locations.

The growth in the number of respondents reporting a newcomer experience was seen across regions. The Central region had the highest proportion of respondents with a newcomer experience (35%, up from 20% during the 2020-2022 PiT Counts), followed by the Western region (11%, up from 6%), the Atlantic region (7%, up from 4%), and the Northern region (2%, down from 3%).

As seen in Table 4, respondents who came to Canada as refugees and asylum claimants comprised the majority of newcomers in the Central Region. Conversely, the Western, Atlantic, and Northern regions had higher proportions of those who arrived as immigrants. The Atlantic and Northern regions also had the highest prevalence of respondents who arrived on temporary permitsFootnote 9 or by other means.

Table 4. Newcomer status on arrival by region
Region Immigrant Refugee Asylum claimant Temporary permit or other status
Western region 52% 16% 15% 16%
Central region 25% 34% 29% 12%
Atlantic region 44% 11% 13% 33%
Northern region 50% 20% 0% 30%

As seen in Table 5, those who came to Canada as asylum claimants and refugees were most likely to have arrived within the past year. Approximately three quarters (76%) of respondents who came to Canada as an immigrant had been in the country for more than 5 years and only a small proportion (8%) arrived within the past year. In contrast, those that came as refugees or asylum claimants are largely recent arrivals, with 43% of refugees and 61% of asylum claimants having arrived in the country within the past year. Very few respondents who arrived as asylum claimants (5%) have been in Canada for more than five years. Individuals that came to Canada by other means are relatively evenly distributed across mid- and long-term durations, with 41% having been in Canada for one to five years and 30% for more than five years.

Table 5. Time since arrival in Canada among those with a newcomer experience, by status on arrival
Status on arrival Past year One to five years More than 5 years
Immigrant 8% 16% 76%
Refugee 43% 38% 19%
Asylum claimant 61% 34% 5%
Temporary permit or other status 29% 41% 30%

Respondents with a newcomer experience were less likely to report experiencing each difficulty related to health and daily functioning, and fewer such difficulties overall (with an average of one difficulty experienced by newcomers, compared with an average of three difficulties experienced by Indigenous respondents and non-Indigenous Canadian-born respondents).

Members of racialized groups

Respondents were asked to self-identify one or more racial identity as part of the 2024 PiT Survey. Following the methodology of the 2021 Canadian Census,Footnote 10 respondents who only identified as white and/or Indigenous are not considered to be members of a racialized group. All other racial identities (Black, Arab, Latin American, West Asian, East Asian, South Asian and South East Asian) are considered to be part of a racialized group.

A quarter (25%) of respondents self-identified as members of a racialized group. This is similar to the 2021 Census, where about 27% of the Canadian population identified as part of a racialized group. Black respondents were the largest racialized group, representing 17% of all respondents, shown in Figure 9. When compared to the 2021 Census, in which 4% of the Canadian population identified as Black, these results indicate an overrepresentation of Black individuals among the homeless population.

Figure 9. Specific racial identity
Figure 9. Specific racial identity
  • Figure 9 - Text version
    Figure 9. Specific racial identity
    Racial identity Proportion of respondents
    East Asian 0.5%
    South East Asian 0.7%
    West Asian 0.8%
    Arab 1.2%
    Multiple racial identities 1.2%
    Latin American 1.3%
    South Asian 1.8%
    Black 17.3%
    Non-racialized (White) 40.3%
    Indigenous Only 34.9%

The proportion of respondents identifying as Black has increased since the 2020-2022 Count, during which 8% of respondents identified as Black. This growth is largely due to an increase in Black respondents who reported arriving in Canada as a newcomer. The proportion of respondents who identified as Black and Canadian-born remained consistent in 2020-2022 and 2024 (3%), whereas the proportion who identified as Black and who had a newcomer experience grew from 4% in 2020-2022 to 14% in 2024.Footnote 11

A substantial majority of respondents belonging to a racialized group reported having come to Canada as a newcomer (82%). This group was closely split between those who came as an immigrant (20%), refugee (27%) and asylum claimant (25%), with a smaller group having come through other means (10%). Respondents identifying as Black, Arab or West Asian were more likely than other groups to report having arrived as a refugee or asylum claimant (64%, 53% and 49% respectively). These proportions grew significantly since the pandemic-era PiT Counts in 2020-2022 (29%, 27%, and 40%, respectively).

Veterans

Nearly 4% of respondents indicated that they were Veterans. This included 3% who reported being Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces (i.e., the Canadian Army, Navy, and Air Force) and less than 1% who were Veterans of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or Veterans of both the RCMP and Armed Forces. This is slightly lower than in 2020-2022, when approximately 5% of respondents reported being a Veteran, and is closer to the percentage found in the 2021 Census for the Canadian population that identified as a Veteran (2%).

Veterans were more likely to be experiencing unsheltered homelessness on the night surveyed: 37% of Veterans were unsheltered, compared to 25% of non-Veterans. However, shelter use in the past 12 months was nearly identical among Veterans (72%) and non-Veterans (71%).

Veterans were more likely than non-Veterans to be older adults (34% vs. 20%) or seniors (10% vs. 4%) and to identify as Indigenous (43% vs. 32%). They were also more likely to report experiences as youth in care (36% vs. 28%).

Veterans were more likely to report lived experiences of disability and health challenges than non-Veterans. The most pronounced differences were seen in the prevalence of acquired brain injury (40% vs. 21%), physical mobility challenges (54% vs. 36%), sensory challenges (42% vs. 28%) and illness or medical conditions (53% vs. 39%), shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10. Prevalence of difficulties related to health or daily functioning, by Veteran status
Figure 10. Prevalence of difficulties related to health or daily functioning, by Veteran status
  • Figure 10 - Text version
    Figure 10. Prevalence of difficulties related to health or daily functioning, by Veteran status
    Category of difficulty Veterans Non-Veterans
    Illness or medical condition 53% 39%
    Physical mobility 54% 36%
    Learning, intellectual / developmental, or cognitive function 38% 31%
    Acquired brain injury 40% 21%
    Mental health issue 63% 60%
    Substance use issue 69% 60%
    Senses 42% 28%

The primary sources of income reported among Veterans were social assistance (36%) followed by disability benefits (34%). Veterans were more likely than non-Veterans to report receiving disability benefits (34% vs. 25%); however, they were less likely to report receiving social assistance (36% vs. 48%). Three percent of Veterans indicated that they receive benefits from Veterans Affairs Canada, suggesting limited access to this program relative to other income supports. The percentage accessing Veterans’ benefits may be undercounted, as individuals may refer to the benefit as a disability benefit.

Conclusion

The 2024 nationally coordinated Point-in-Time Counts provide critical insight into the scope and characteristics of experiences of homelessness in Canada. By collecting information on overnight locations, health challenges, first experiences of homelessness, and identity, the Survey on Homelessness helps deepen our understanding of the diverse realities of people experiencing homelessness.

The results highlight the disproportionate impact of homelessness on certain groups, including Indigenous peoples, members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, Veterans, people belonging to racialized groups, youth, women, and those that came to Canada as a newcomer. These findings underscore that the experience of homelessness is not experienced equally by everyone and is shaped by intersecting social, structural, and identity-based factors.

Looking ahead, additional reports will further explore the experiences of these groups, among other topics, and provide deeper insight into the dynamics of homelessness across diverse populations and geographies. These future reports will provide communities and policymakers with further evidence to guide service delivery, targeted interventions, and more data-driven policy development.

If you have questions about this report, contact hpd.data-donnees.dpmi@infc.gc.ca.

Annex A – Communities participating in the 2024 PiT Count survey

The following 75 communities contributed to the survey data upon which this report is based:

  • Abbotsford, BC
  • Chilliwack, BC
  • Cowichan Valley, BC
  • Kamloops, BC
  • Kelowna, BC
  • Nanaimo, BC
  • Nelson, BC
  • Prince George, BC
  • Metro Vancouver, BC (Conducted in March 2025)
  • Victoria, BC (Conducted in March 2025)
  • Calgary, AB
  • Edmonton, AB
  • Grande Prairie, AB
  • Lethbridge, AB
  • Lloydminster, AB
  • Medicine Hat, AB
  • Red Deer, AB
  • Wood Buffalo, AB
  • Beauval, SK
  • Buffalo Narrows, SK
  • Île-à-la-Crosse, SK
  • La Loche, SK
  • Lac La Ronge Tri-Community, SK
  • Meadow Lake, SK
  • Melfort, SK
  • Moose Jaw, SK
  • Nipawin, SK
  • North Battleford, SK
  • Pinehouse, SK
  • Yorkton, SK
  • Prince Albert, SK
  • Regina, SK
  • Saskatoon, SK
  • Brandon, MB
  • Thompson, MB
  • Winnipeg, MB
  • Belleville (Hastings), ON
  • Brantford, ON
  • Cochrane District (Timmins), ON
  • Dufferin County, ON
  • Durham (Oshawa), ON
  • Guelph / Wellington County, ON
  • Halton, ON
  • Hamilton, ON
  • Kenora District, ON
  • Kingston, ON
  • Lambton County, ON
  • London, ON
  • Muskoka, ON
  • Nipissing / North Bay, ON
  • Ottawa, ON
  • Peel Region, ON
  • Peterborough, ON
  • Sault Ste. Marie, ON
  • Simcoe County, ON
  • St. Catharines / Niagara, ON
  • Sudbury, ON
  • Strathroy, ON
  • Thunder Bay, ON
  • Toronto, ON
  • Waterloo / Kitchener, ON
  • Windsor, ON
  • York Region, ON
  • Bathurst, NB
  • Fredericton, NB
  • Moncton, NB
  • Saint John, NB
  • Halifax, NS
  • Sydney / Cape Breton, NS
  • Charlottetown, PEI
  • Summerside, PEI
  • St. John's, NL
  • Iqaluit, NU
  • Yellowknife, NWT
  • Whitehorse, YT

Annex B – 2024 PiT Count survey form

Unsheltered surey. Survey number: 0000

Location: _____

Time: _____ AM/PM

Interviewer: _____

Contact #: _____

C. Where are you staying tonight? / Where did you stay last night?

  1. DECLINE TO ANSWER [THANK & END]
  2. OWN APARTMENT / HOUSE [THANK & END]
  3. SOMEONE ELSE'S PLACE [CONTINUE TO QUESTION C1]
  4. HOTEL/MOTEL SELF-FUNDED [CONTINUE TO QUESTION C1]
  5. HOSPITAL [CONTINUE TO QUESTION C1]
  6. TREATMENT CENTRE [CONTINUE TO QUESTION C1]
  7. JAIL, PRISON, REMAND CENTRE [CONTINUE TO QUESTION C1]
  8. HOMELESS SHELTER (e.g. emergency, family or domestic violence shelter, warming centre, drop-in) [BEGIN SURVEY]
  9. HOTEL/MOTEL FUNDED BY CITY OR HOMELESS PROGRAM [BEGIN SURVEY]
  10. TRANSITIONAL SHELTER/HOUSING [BEGIN SURVEY]
  11. UNSHELTERED IN A PUBLIC SPACE (e.g. street, park, bus shelter, forest, or abandoned building) [BEGIN SURVEY]
  12. ENCAMPMENT (e.g. group of tents, makeshift shelters, or other long-term outdoor settlement) [BEGIN SURVEY]
  13. VEHICLE (e.g. car, van, recreational vehicle (RV), truck, boat) [BEGIN SURVEY]
  14. UNSURE: INDICATE PROBABLE LOCATION _____ (b. - m.) [BEGIN SURVEY]

C1. Do you have access to a permanent residence where you can safely stay as long as you want?

  1. YES [THANK & END]
  2. NO (not permanent AND/OR not safe) [BEGIN SURVEY]
  3. DON'T KNOW [BEGIN SURVEY]
  4. DECLINE TO ANSWER [THANK & END]

Begin survey

1. Have you spent at least one night in any of the following locations in the past year? (Check all that apply)

  • HOMELESS SHELTER (e.g. emergency, family or domestic violence shelter, warming centre, drop-in)
  • HOTEL/MOTEL FUNDED BY CITY OR HOMELESS PROGRAM
  • TRANSITIONAL SHELTER/HOUSING
  • UNSHELTERED IN A PUBLIC SPACE (e.g. street, park, bus shelter, forest, or abandoned building)
  • ENCAMPMENT (e.g. group of tents, makeshift shelters, or other long-term outdoor settlement)
  • VEHICLE (e.g. car, van, recreational vehicle (RV), truck, boat)
  • SOMEONE ELSE'S PLACE BECAUSE YOU HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO
  • HOSPITAL OR OTHER HEALTH FACILITY
  • JAIL, PRISON, OR OTHER CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
  • NO
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

2. Do you have family members or anyone else who is staying with you tonight? / Did any family members or anyone else stay with you last night? (Indicate survey number for partners. Check all that apply)

  • NONE
  • PARTNER -  Survey #: _____
  • PET(S)
  • OTHER ADULT (Can include other family or friends)
  • CHILD(REN)/DEPENDENT(S)
    • [indicate age for each child/dependent]
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

3. How old are you? [OR] What year were you born? (If unsure, ask for best estimate)

  • AGE _____ OR YEAR BORN _____
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

For this survey, “homelessness” means any time when you have been without a permanent and secure place to live, and includes sleeping in shelters, on the streets, or living temporarily with others without having your own permanent housing (e.g. couch surfing).

4. In total, for how much time have you experienced homelessness over the PAST YEAR (the last 12 months)? (Does not need to be exact. Best estimate.)

  • LENGTH: _____ DAYS | WEEKS | MONTHS
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

4b. In total, for how much time have you experienced homelessness over the PAST 3 YEARS? (Does not need to be exact. Best estimate.)

  • LESS THAN HALF
  • ABOUT HALF OR MORE
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

5. How old were you the first time you experienced homelessness?

  • AGE: _____
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

6. Did you come to Canada as an immigrant, refugee, asylum claimant (i.e. applied for refugee status after coming to Canada), or through another process?

  • YES, IMMIGRANT
  • YES, REFUGEE
  • YES, ASYLUM CLAIMANT IN CANADA
  • YES, TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKER
  • YES, OTHER WORK PERMIT
  • YES, STUDY PERMIT
  • YES, TEMPORARY RESIDENT
  • YES, OTHER (including undocumented)
  • NO
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

If yes, how long have you been in Canada?

  • LENGTH: _____ DAYS | WEEKS | MONTHS | YEARS
    OR DATE: _____/_____/_____ DAYS | WEEKS | MONTHS |YEARS
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

7. How long have you been in (community name)?

  • LENGTH ______ DAYS / WEEKS / MONTHS / YEARS
  • ALWAYS BEEN HERE
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

Where did you live before you came here?

  • CITY: ____________________ | PROVINCE/TERRITORY/COUNTRY: ________________ 
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

8. Do you identify as First Nations (with or without status), Métis, or Inuit? (If yes, please specify)

(COMMUNITY NOTE: The wording of this question can be adapted to what makes sense in your community, for example by listing specific First Nations)

  • YES, FIRST NATIONS
  • YES, INUIT
  • YES, MÉTIS
  • YES, INDIGENOUS ANCESTRY
  • NO
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

8b. In addition to your response in the question above, do you identify with any of the racial identities listed below? (Show or Read list. Select all that apply)

  • IDENTIFY AS INDIGENOUS ONLY
  • ARAB (e.g., Syrian, Egyptian, Yemeni)
  • ASIAN-EAST (e.g., Chinese, Korean, Japanese)
  • ASIAN- SOUTH-EAST (e.g., Filipino, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Malaysian, Laotian)
  • ASIAN-SOUTH OR INDO-CARIBBEAN (e.g., Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Indo-Guyanese, Indo-Trinidadian)
  • ASIAN-WEST (e.g., Iranian, Afghan)
  • BLACK-CANADIAN/AMERICAN
  • BLACK-AFRICAN (e.g., Ghanaian, Ethiopian, Nigerian)
  • BLACK-AFRO-CARIBBEAN OR AFRO-LATINX (e.g., Jamaican, Haitian, Afro-Brazilian.)
  • LATIN AMERICAN (e.g., Brazilian, Mexican, Chilean, Cuban)
  • WHITE (e.g. European, French, Ukrainian, Euro-Latinx)
  • NOT LISTED (PLEASE SPECIFY): ______________________
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

9. Have you ever served in the Canadian Military or RCMP? (Military includes Canadian Navy, Army, and Air Force, Regular and Reserve, Army Rangers including completing basic training)

  • YES, MILITARY
  • YES, RCMP
  • BOTH MILITARY AND RCMP
  • NO
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

10. As a child or youth, were you ever in foster care or in a youth group home (COMMUNITY NOTE: include any other Provincial child welfare programs)?

(Note: This question applies specifically to child welfare programs.)

  • YES
  • NO
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

11. Have you been experiencing difficulties related to any of the following?:

ILLNESS OR MEDICAL CONDITION
(e.g. diabetes, tuberculosis (TB) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV))

  • YES
  • NO
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

PHYSICAL MOBILITY
(e.g. spinal cord injury, arthritis, or limited movement or dexterity)

  • YES
  • NO
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

LEARNING, INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL, OR COGNITIVE FUNCTION
(e.g. fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia or dementia)

  • YES
  • NO
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY
(e.g. due to an accident, violence, overdose, stroke, or brain tumour)

  • YES
  • NO
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

MENTAL HEALTH [diagnosed/undiagnosed]
(e.g. depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar, or schizophrenia)

  • YES
  • NO
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

SUBSTANCE USE
(e.g. alcohol or opiates)

  • YES
  • NO
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

SENSES, SUCH AS SEEING OR HEARING
(e.g. blindness or deafness)

  • YES
  • NO
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

12. What gender do you identify with? (Show list or read list.)

  • MAN
  • WOMAN
  • TWO-SPIRIT
  • TRANS WOMAN
  • TRANS MAN
  • NON-BINARY (GENDERQUEER)
  • NOT LISTED: ________________________
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

13. How do you describe your sexual orientation, for example straight, gay, lesbian? (Show list or read list.)

  • STRAIGHT/HETEROSEXUAL
  • GAY
  • LESBIAN
  • BISEXUAL
  • TWO-SPIRIT
  • PANSEXUAL
  • ASEXUAL
  • QUEER
  • QUESTIONING
  • NOT LISTED: ________________
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

14. What happened that caused you to lose your housing most recently? (Do not read the options. Check all that apply. “Housing” does not include temporary arrangements (e.g., couch surfing) or shelter stays. Follow up for the reason if the respondent says “eviction” or that they “chose to leave”.)

  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

A. HOUSING AND FINANCIAL ISSUES

  • NOT ENOUGH INCOME FOR HOUSING (e.g. rental increase, loss of benefit, income or job)
  • UNFIT/UNSAFE HOUSING CONDITION
  • BUILDING SOLD OR RENOVATED
  • OWNER MOVED IN

B. CONFLICT WITH:

  • SPOUSE/PARTNER
  • PARENT/GUARDIAN
  • LANDLORD
  • OTHER (________________)

C. EXPERIENCED DISCRIMINATION BY:

  • SPOUSE/PARTNER
  • PARENT/GUARDIAN
  • LANDLORD
  • OTHER (________________)

D. OTHER

  • COMPLAINT (e.g. noise/damage)
  • LEFT THE COMMUNITY/RELOCATED
  • DEATH OR DEPARTURE OF FAMILY MEMBER
  • PET(S)
  • OTHER REASON: _________________

E. EXPERIENCED ABUSE BY:

  • SPOUSE/PARTNER
  • PARENT/GUARDIAN
  • LANDLORD
  • OTHER (________________)

F. HEALTH OR CORRECTIONS

  • PHYSICAL HEALTH ISSUE/DISABILITY
  • MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE
  • SUBSTANCE USE ISSUE
  • HOSPITALIZATION OR TREATMENT PROGRAM
  • INCARCERATION (jail or prison)

14b. Was your most recent housing loss related to an eviction?

  • YES
  • NO
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

14c. How long ago did that happen (that you lost your housing most recently)? (Best estimate)

  • LENGTH _____  DAYS | WEEKS | MONTHS | YEARS
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

15. What are your sources of income? (Reminder that this survey is anonymous. Read list and check all that apply)

Formal or Informal Work

  • FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT
  • PART TIME EMPLOYMENT
  • CASUAL EMPLOYMENT (e.g. contract work)
  • INFORMAL INCOME SOURCES (e.g. bottle returns, panhandling, sex work)

Benefits

  • EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
  • DISABILITY BENEFIT (name of Prov. DISABILITY BENEFIT)
  • SENIORS BENEFITS (e.g. CPP/OAS/GIS)
  • WELFARE/SOCIAL ASSISTANCE (Prov. benefit)
  • VETERAN/VAC BENEFITS
  • CHILD AND FAMILY BENEFITS
  • GST/HST REFUND

Other

  • MONEY FROM FAMILY/FRIENDS
  • OTHER MONEY FROM A SERVICE AGENCY
  • OTHER: _____
  • NO INCOME
  • DON'T KNOW
  • DECLINE TO ANSWER

Annex C – Glossary

2SLGBTQI+
The acronym used by the Government of Canada to refer to the Canadian community. 2S: at the front, recognizes Two-Spirit people as the first 2SLGBTQI+ communities; L: Lesbian; G: Gay; B: Bisexual; T: Transgender; Q: Queer; I: Intersex, considers sex characteristics beyond sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression; +: is inclusive of people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities, who use additional terminologies.
Adult
Person between the ages of 25 and 49.
Asylum claimant
A person who has applied for refugee protection status while in Canada and is waiting for a decision on a claim from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
Atlantic region
Consists of communities in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island.
Central region
Consists of communities in the provinces of Ontario and Québec.
Chronic homelessness
Refers to individuals who are currently experiencing homelessness AND who meet at least 1 of the following criteria:
  • they have a total of at least 6 months (180 days) of homelessness over the past year
  • they have recurrent experiences of homelessness over the past 3 years, with a cumulative duration of at least 18 months.
Core Locations
The principal locations included in the PiT Count Enumeration and the Survey on Homelessness are:
  • Unsheltered
  • Sheltered
  • Transitional housing
Dependent
A person that is considered to be a dependent of a Family Head, including children, elderly relatives, or other relatives that cannot support themselves independently.
Eastern region
Consists of communities in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Hidden Homelessness
Includes living temporarily with others or accessing temporary accommodations, without guarantee of continued residency (i.e., security of tenure) or access to a safe and permanent residence. People experiencing hidden homelessness constitute a hard-to-reach group.
Homelessness
The living situation of an individual or family who does not have stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring a home.
Family
People who report being in the company of 1 or more family members during their episode of homelessness.
First Nations
An individual who self-identifies as First Nations.
Immigrant
A landed immigrant/permanent resident is a person who has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. This is self reported at time of shelter entry.
Indigenous Ancestry
A person who does not identify as First Nations, Inuit or Métis, but has ancestry that may have identified as Indigenous.
Indigenous Peoples
A person who self-identifies as being First Nations, Métis, Inuit, status or non status person, regardless of residency or membership status.
Inuit
An individual who self-identifies as Inuit.
Métis
An individual who self-identifies as Métis.
Non-Indigenous
A person who self-identifies as not being First Nations, Inuit or Métis.
Northern region
Consists of communities in the territories of Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
Older adult
Person between the ages of 50 and 64.
Partner
Person who is a member of a couple.
PiT Count Enumeration
Number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night during a specified period.
Refugee
A person who is outside of their home country, or country where they normally live, and fears returning to that country because of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.
Respondent
The person providing answers to the screening or survey questions in the PiT Count Enumeration or the Survey on Homelessness.
Senior
Person aged 65 and older.
Sheltered Homelessness
Includes emergency shelters, extreme weather shelters, Domestic Violence shelters, and where applicable, it may also include hotel or motel rooms provided to families or individuals experiencing homelessness in lieu of shelter beds.
Single adult
Person who is not staying with family and/or friends during an episode of homelessness.
Systems
Facilities that are regulated by either federal, provincial or municipal bodies such as:
  • hospitals
  • treatment centres
  • prisons
  • jails, and
  • detention centres.
Transitional Housing
These programs are meant as a step to permanent housing, where clients can remain for longer terms. Transitional housing with stays guaranteed for longer than a year, where residents have security of tenure and pay a portion of the rent, should not normally be included. This category can include people in transitional bed-based facilities located in other service providers. These should be included only if the respondents would otherwise be homeless.
Unsheltered Homelessness
Includes places unfit for human habitation, including streets, alleys, parks, other greenspaces, transit stations, abandoned buildings, vehicles, ravines, and other outdoor locations where people experiencing homelessness are known to sleep. Encampments are included within the category of unsheltered homelessness.
Veteran
A former member of the Canadian Armed Forces or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This is self reported at time of survey entry.
Western region
Consists of communities in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Youth
Person between the ages of 13 and 24 who identified to be unaccompanied by a parent or guardian during their episode of homelessness.

Annex D – Overnight locations, rates of chronic homelessness, and year-over-year changes, by sociodemographic characteristics

Table 6. Proportional representation of specific populations within overnight locations in 2024
Sociodemographic groups Sheltered Transitional Unsheltered Hotels / Motels Systems Hidden All locations
Age range Child (0-12) 8.2% 12.7% 0.7% 21.0% 0.0% 5.8% 6.6%
Youth (13-24) 10.5% 19.5% 6.4% 11.4% 11.2% 15.3% 10.8%
Adult (25-49) 52.9% 46.3% 69.0% 51.2% 71.8% 57.9% 57.6%
Older Adult (50-64) 22.5% 18.0% 20.9% 13.9% 13.7% 18.3% 20.6%
Senior (65+) 5.8% 3.6% 3.1% 2.5% 3.3% 2.7% 4.3%
Gender Man 61.1% 52.7% 65.0% 44.4% 66.4% 52.0% 60.1%
Woman 36.1% 44.8% 31.7% 54.5% 29.8% 44.7% 36.9%
Gender-diverse 2.8% 2.5% 3.2% 1.1% 3.8% 3.4% 3.0%
Sexual identity Non-2SLGBTQI+ 85.4% 84.5% 87.5% 78.5% 86.2% 86.7% 85.9%
2SLGBTQI+ 14.6% 15.5% 12.5% 21.5% 13.8% 13.3% 14.1%
Experience as youth in care Not prior youth in care 77.6% 74.1% 62.5% 88.6% 59.5% 65.8% 71.2%
Prior youth in care 22.4% 25.9% 37.6% 11.4% 40.5% 34.2% 28.8%
Indigenous identities First Nations 18.1% 19.2% 34.3% 9.5% 42.5% 43.2% 26.6%
Inuit 1.2% 2.3% 1.4% 0.2% 0.8% 1.1% 1.5%
Métis 3.5% 1.9% 6.4% 1.6% 3.3% 9.7% 5.1%
Newcomer status upon arrival Immigrant 10.0% 6.7% 4.2% 5.5% 6.1% 4.3% 7.1%
Refugee 11.0% 6.4% 1.0% 24.8% 2.8% 5.2% 7.2%
Asylum claimant 9.4% 14.0% 0.2% 21.6% 0.1% 1.8% 6.4%
Temporary permit or other status 4.6% 4.1% 0.9% 5.7% 0.9% 1.7% 3.1%
Veteran status Non-Veteran 96.8% 97.5% 94.4% 98.7% 96.4% 96.9% 96.3%
Veteran 3.3% 2.5% 5.6% 1.3% 3.6% 3.1% 3.7%
Racial identity Arab 1.5% 2.9% 0.3% 2.5% 0.8% 0.5% 1.2%
East Asian 0.7% 0.3% 0.3% 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% 0.5%
South East Asian 1.1% 0.7% 0.3% 0.4% 0.7% 0.5% 0.7%
South Asian 2.7% 1.3% 0.9% 1.4% 1.5% 1.1% 1.8%
West Asian 1.2% 0.9% 0.3% 1.1% 0.3% 0.7% 0.8%
Black 26.4% 25.3% 3.4% 50.5% 6.5% 7.9% 17.3%
Latin American 1.7% 1.3% 0.7% 1.1% 1.1% 1.1% 1.3%
Non-racialized 39.2% 40.3% 48.6% 29.3% 38.5% 31.2% 40.3%
Multiple racialized 1.5% 2.1% 0.7% 1.4% 2.0% 0.9% 1.2%
Table 7. Summary of the prevalence of chronic homelessness among specific populations in 2024
Sociodemographic groups Acute chronicity Combined chronic Prolonged instability Overall chronic
Age range Youth (13-24) 26.5% 37.6% 9.8% 74.0%
Adult (25-49) 21.8% 54.2% 8.0% 83.9%
Older Adult (50-64) 20.3% 54.8% 8.4% 83.5%
Senior (65+) 23.2% 47.9% 7.1% 78.1%
Gender Man 20.7% 55.1% 8.0% 83.8%
Woman 24.3% 47.4% 8.6% 80.4%
Gender Diverse 18.0% 57.5% 10.6% 86.2%
Sexual identity Non-2SLGBTQI+ 21.3% 53.2% 8.2% 82.7%
2SLGBTQI+ 24.2% 49.0% 8.2% 81.4%
Experience as youth in care Not prior youth in care 24.2% 48.7% 7.6% 80.5%
Prior youth in care 16.6% 61.9% 9.2% 87.7%
Indigenous identity First Nations 16.6% 60.9% 10.0% 87.4%
Inuit 34.2% 47.7% 8.8% 90.7%
Métis 16.8% 61.0% 11.5% 89.3%
Newcomer status upon arrival Immigrant 23.7% 46.32% 7.1% 77.1%
Refugee 39.6% 28.29% 4.8% 72.7%
Asylum claimant 42.8% 21.57% 6.8% 71.1%
Temporary permit or other status 33.4% 30.43% 4.9% 68.7%
Veteran status Non-Veteran 22.5% 51.3% 8.2% 82.0%
Veteran 17.2% 59.8% 9.3% 86.4%
Racial identity Arab 21.5% 30.3% 12.8% 64.6%
East Asian 25.0% 44.8% 4.3% 74.1%
South East Asian 21.4% 49.5% 9.3% 80.2%
South Asian 27.3% 43.7% 5.2% 76.2%
West Asian 22.2% 38.6% 4.2% 65.1%
Black 38.5% 29.2% 6.0% 73.8%
Latin American 21.9% 48.8% 5.0% 75.7%
Non-racialized 19.5% 56.1% 7.6% 83.2%
Multiple racialized 22.5% 51.8% 7.8% 82.1%
Table 8. Year-over-year changes in proportional representation of specific populations among subset of 59 communities that participated in 2024 and 2020-2022 PiT Counts
Sociodemographic groups Proportion of survey respondents in 2024 Proportion of survey respondents in 2020-2022 Difference in proportion between 2024 and 2020-2022
Age range Youth (13-24) 6.3% 5.6% +0.7%
Adult (25-49) 10.5% 12.3% -1.7%
Older Adult (50-64) 58.0% 55.0% +3.0%
Senior (65+) 20.8% 22.7% -1.8%
Gender Man 60.3% 61.9% -1.6%
Woman 36.8% 35.7% 1.0%
Gender Diverse 3.0% 2.4% 0.6%
Sexual identity Non-2SLGBTQI+ 85.8% 88.1% -2.3%
2SLGBTQI+ 14.2% 11.9% 2.3%
Experience as youth in care Not prior youth in care 71.4% 68.3% 3.1%
Prior youth in care 28.6% 31.7% -3.1%
Indigenous identity First Nations 25.6% 27.1% -1.5%
Inuit 1.1% 1.6% -0.5%
Métis 4.3% 6.8% -2.6%
Newcomer status upon arrival Immigrant 7.4% 9.2% -1.8%
Refugee 7.5% 1.6% 5.9%
Asylum claimant 6.7% 2.1% 4.6%
Temporary permit or other status 3.2% - -
Veteran status Non-Veteran 96.2% 95.3% 0.9%
Veteran 3.8% 4.7% -0.9%
Racial identity Arab 1.2% 0.9% 0.3%
East Asian 0.5% 0.6% -0.1%
South East Asian 0.7% 1.0% -0.2%
South Asian 1.8% 1.9% -0.1%
West Asian 0.8% 0.8% 0.1%
Black 18.0% 8.4% 9.6%
Latin American 1.3% 1.3% 0.0%
Non-racialized 41.4% 39.8% 1.6%
Multiple racialized 1.3% 1.7% -0.4%

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