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Homelessness

Domain

Prosperity

Subdomain

Economic security and deprivation

Indicator

Homelessness

Definition

This concept is assessed through several sub-indicators.

Chronic homelessness in shelters

  • Number of emergency shelter users in a year experiencing chronic homelessness.

Point-in-time homelessness

  • Number of people per 10,000 population on a given night in unsheltered locations, emergency shelters, and transitional housing.
  • Number of people in private dwellings who experienced hidden homelessness on Census Day.

Annual homelessness

  • Number of people who accessed an emergency shelter at some point over the past 12 months.
  • Number of people in private dwellings who experienced unsheltered or emergency sheltered homelessness at some point over the past 12 months.
  • Number of people in private dwellings who experienced hidden homelessness at some point over the past 12 months.

Measurement

Homelessness describes the situation of an individual or family without stable, safe, or permanent housing, or the immediate prospect, means, or ability of acquiring it.

Homelessness includes the following living situations:

  • Unsheltered: living unsheltered or in places not intended for human habitation
  • Emergency sheltered: staying in overnight shelters for people who are homeless, or shelters for those impacted by family violence
  • Hidden homeless: staying temporarily in dwellings (other than shelters) without guaranteed residency and having nowhere else to live, often with friends or family.

Each component of this indicator is measured differently.

Chronic homelessness in shelters

Number of emergency shelter users in a year experiencing chronic homelessness

This indicator is measured using The National Shelter Study. The National Shelter Study is an ongoing analysis of trends in homeless shelter use in Canada. The analysis uses data from the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS), and provincial and municipal partners that have data sharing agreements with the Government of Canada.

Approximately 50% of emergency shelters in Canada were included in the 2024 National Shelter Study, representing about 70% of available emergency shelter beds. The methodology takes into account people who use more than one shelter to ensure that individuals are only counted once. Domestic violence shelters, immigrant and refugee shelters, and transitional housing are not included due to insufficient data coverage.

Point-in-time homelessness

Number of people per 10,000 population on a given night in unsheltered locations, emergency shelters, and transitional housing.

This indicator is measured using Nationally Coordinated Point-in-Time Counts from Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada. The point-in-time counts provide an enumeration of how many people experience homelessness in the community. An enumeration is an estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness within a determined geographical area on a single night.

Participating communities and regions carry out an enumeration of homelessness in “core” locations, including unsheltered locations (such as streets, alleys, parks, transit stations, vehicles), sheltered locations (such as emergency shelters, extreme weather shelters, domestic violence shelters) and transitional housing (such as programs that provide support to individuals transitioning from homelessness to secure housing).

Number of people in private dwellings who experienced hidden homelessness on Census Day.

This indicator is measured through the Census of Population and includes hidden homelessness experiences on Census Day of people in private dwellings.

The 2026 Census of Population will include the following questions on homelessness experiences:

Considering homelessness experiences, over the past 12 months, has this person stayed in a shelter, on the street or in parks, in a makeshift shelter, in a vehicle, or in an abandoned building?

  • Yes
  • No

Considering other types of housing challenges, over the past 12 months, has this person lived temporarily with friends, family or others because they had nowhere else to live?

Include temporary living arrangements where the person did not have the resources to secure their own permanent housing (person facing financial difficulties, fleeing abuse, recently evicted, etc.).

Exclude stays for vacation, family visits, or other voluntary short-term stays.

  • Yes
  • No

Is this person currently living in this household temporarily because they have nowhere else to live?

  • Yes
  • No

Annual homelessness

Number of people who accessed an emergency shelter at some point over the past 12 months

This indicator is measured using The National Shelter Study.

Number of people in private dwellings who experienced unsheltered or emergency sheltered homelessness at some point over the past 12 months

This indicator is measured through the Census of Population and includes the experiences of unsheltered or emergency sheltered homelessness over 12 months for people in private dwellings. It does not include homelessness experiences of those not living in private dwellings on Census Day.

Number of people in private dwellings who experienced hidden homelessness at some point over the past 12 months

This indicator is measured through the Census of Population and includes the experiences of hidden homelessness over 12 months for people in private dwellings. It does not include homelessness experiences of those not living in private dwellings on Census Day.

Why this indicator is important

Homelessness can affect health, safety, and social inclusion, and is closely linked to broader economic and social well-being.

The nature and visibility of homelessness in Canada can vary widely, from individuals living unsheltered to those in temporary or precarious housing. Without accurate measurement, the scale and characteristics of homelessness may be underestimated, making it harder to design effective policies and programs. Tracking homelessness over time allows governments and communities to assess progress, allocate resources efficiently, and address the diverse needs of those affected, including populations that may be hidden from traditional counts.

Data sources

Data for homelessness indicators originate from multiple sources.

Chronic homelessness in shelters

Number of emergency shelter users in a year experiencing chronic homelessness.

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada:

Point-in-time homelessness

Number of people per 10,000 population on a given night in unsheltered locations, emergency shelters and transitional housing

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada:

Number of people in private dwellings who experienced hidden homelessness on Census Day

Census of Population

  • Data for this indicator will be collected for the first time in the 2026 Census of Population.

Annual homelessness

Number of people who accessed an emergency shelter at some point over the past 12 months

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada:

Number of people in private dwellings who experienced unsheltered or emergency sheltered homelessness at some point over the past 12 months

Census of Population

  • Data for this indicator will be collected for the first time in the 2026 Census of Population.

Number of people in private dwellings who experienced hidden homelessness at some point over the past 12 months

Census of Population

  • Data for this indicator will be collected for the first time in the 2026 Census of Population.

Data tables and analysis

For products related to homelessness, including data tables, data visualizations, articles, and other product types, see Analytical releases: Homelessness or view all analytical releases.

Frameworks

This indicator aligns with the following frameworks:

Additional information

Statistics Canada also collects data on homelessness through the Canadian Housing Survey (CHS) in the Homelessness module.

The Census of Population also collects the number of persons in emergency shelters on Census Day:

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