More than 80,000 Ontarians were unhoused in 2024, a number that has grown by more than 25% since 2022 — this according to a new study from the Association of Ontario Municipalities (AMO).
"The scope and scale of homelessness across Ontario’s municipalities is truly staggering," Robin Jones, AMO President, said in a statement. "Without real and meaningful provincial action, the quality of life and economic prosperity of Ontario’s communities is at risk. We can solve this crisis, but we need to work together."
Without significant intervention, the number of unhoused in Ontario could double in the next decade and reach nearly 300,000 people in an economic downturn, according to AMO.
Homelessness in Ontario
Of the 80,000 unhoused people in Ontario, more than half is considered to be chronically unhoused, meaning they experience prolonged or repeat episodes of homelessness.
Almost half of the chronically unhoused population in some communities are Indigenous, according to the report.
While the vast majority of the province’s unhoused population exists in urban centres in Southern Ontario, the homelessness issue is a province-wide problem. In fact, rural communities and communities in the northern areas of the province have seen significant increases in recent years.
In rural communities, homelessness has grown by more than 150% since 2016, compared to an average of about 50% across all communities in the province. Meanwhile, in Northern Ontario, homelessness has risen by an estimated 204% since 2016, more than four times faster than in southern Ontario over the same time period.
While the majority of those experiencing homelessness are adults, nearly one quarter of chronically unhoused Ontarians are children (0-15) or youth (16-24). Refugee homelessness has also grown more than 600% in four years, while the number of chronically unhoused immigrants has doubled in the same time period.
Ontario’s responsibility
Ontario is the only province where responsibility for social housing is deferred to municipalities.
Municipal funding for housing and homelessness programs has grown significantly in recent years, totalling more than $2.1 billion in 2024. However, AMO says that recent provincial investments represent just a fraction of what’s required, and do not truly help “already overstretched” homeless and shelter programs.
In response, the report suggests an estimated additional $11 billion over 10 years could end chronic homelessness by boosting the supply of affordable housing, improving transitional and supportive services and enhancing prevention programs.
As well, an additional $2 billion over eight years could largely eliminate encampments, the report says.
This study was conducted by HelpSeeker Technologies, in partnership with AMO, the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association and the Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association.
This article Ontario’s homeless population is at a tipping point originally appeared on Money.ca
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