The National Service Provider List (NSPL) is a comprehensive list of emergency and transitional homeless shelters with permanent beds in Canada. It is updated on an annual basis by the Homelessness Policy Directorate of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC). It includes information on bed capacity, location, and the clientele served by each service provider. The annual updates are made possible through collaborative efforts, relying on data contributions from service providers, communities, and various partners. This multifaceted information is gathered through a combination of primary and secondary research methods, as well as through collaborative data-sharing initiatives with jurisdictions utilizing the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) or comparable administrative systems for tracking homelessness data. Related Reports and Statistics: -The Shelter Capacity Report: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) - Data analysis, reports and publications (infc.gc.ca) https://secure.infc.gc.ca/homelessness-sans-abri/reports-rapports/publications-eng.html -Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0353-01 Homeless Shelter Capacity in Canada from 2016 to 2022, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) (statcan.gc.ca): https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410035301

Homeless Shelter Capacity in Canada, bed and shelter counts by target population and geographical location for emergency shelters, transitional housing, and domestic violence shelters.

In 2016, the number of residents in shelters in Canada varied by age and shelter type. That year, there were ****** residents ages 15 to 64 years old in shelters for persons lacking a fixed address.

In 2016, there were ***** residents in shelters for persons lacking a fixed address in Ontario, while there were ten residents in shelters for abused women and their children in Prince Edward Island.

The data provides annual capacity statistics for homeless shelters in Canada. The numbers of permanent beds are reported for each emergency homeless shelter and transitional housing facility in cities across all provinces and territories. Data on shelters are obtained from the National Service Provider List, which is a comprehensive listing of homeless shelters in Canada. It is compiled by the Community Development and Homelessness Partnerships Directorate as part of the National Homelessness Information System (NHIS), a data development initiative that focuses on the collection and analysis of homeless shelter data in Canada.

BC Stats (with partners at the Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (SDPR), and BC Housing) has developed aggregated summary statistics estimating the homeless population in B.C. These estimates were derived from three administrative service use datasets from the Data Innovation Program (DIP): shelter use from BC Housing, social assistance payments from SDPR, demographic information from the Health medical service plan (MSP) central demographics file. The analytic definition of homelessness includes individuals who received income assistance with no fixed address for at least three consecutive months or those who visited a shelter at any time throughout the year. Estimates have been aggregated into four tables: * Annual estimates of the homeless population by age and gender * Annual estimates of the homeless population by chronicity category (chronic vs non-chronic homelessness) * Annual estimates of the homeless population by census division * Monthly estimates of the homeless population by service use (income assistance with no fixed address, shelter use, or both) \ Estimates are available for 2019-2022. Full methodology details are available in the Homeless Cohort Development - Technical Documentation resource.

The annual Shelter Capacity Report provides capacity statistics for emergency homeless shelters, transitional housing and violence against women (VAW) shelters in Canada. The number of shelter facilities and the number of permanent beds are reported for each province and territory, as well as by community.

People experiencing homelessness have historically had high mortality rates compared to housed individuals in Canada, a trend believed to have become exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this matched cohort study conducted in Toronto, Canada, we investigated all-cause mortality over a one-year period by following a random sample of people experiencing homelessness (n = 640) alongside matched housed (n = 6,400) and low-income housed (n = 6,400) individuals. Matching criteria included age, sex-assigned-at-birth, and Charlson comorbidity index. Data were sourced from the Ku-gaa-gii pimitizi-win cohort study and administrative databases from ICES. People experiencing homelessness had 2.7 deaths/100 person-years, compared to 0.7/100 person-years in both matched unexposed groups, representing an all-cause mortality unadjusted hazard ratio (uHR) of 3.7 (95% CI, 2.1–6.5). Younger homeless individuals had much higher uHRs than older groups (ages 25–44 years uHR 16.8 [95% CI 4.0–70.2]; ages 45–64 uHR 6.8 [95% CI 3.0–15.1]; ages 65+ uHR 0.35 [95% CI 0.1–2.6]). Homeless participants who died were, on average, 17 years younger than unexposed individuals. After adjusting for number of comorbidities and presence of mental health or substance use disorder, people experiencing homelessness still had more than twice the hazard of death (aHR 2.2 [95% CI 1.2–4.0]). Homelessness is an important risk factor for mortality; interventions to address this health disparity, such as increased focus on homelessness prevention, are urgently needed.

The National Service Provider List (NSPL) is a comprehensive list of emergency and transitional homeless shelters with permanent beds in Canada. It is updated on an annual basis by the Homelessness Policy Directorate of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC). It includes information on bed capacity, location, and the clientele served by each service provider. The annual updates are made possible through collaborative efforts, relying on data contributions from service providers, communities, and various partners. This multifaceted information is gathered through a combination of primary and secondary research methods, as well as through collaborative data-sharing initiatives with jurisdictions utilizing the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) or comparable administrative systems for tracking homelessness data. Related Reports and Statistics: -The Shelter Capacity Report: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) - Data analysis, reports and publications (infc.gc.ca) https://secure.infc.gc.ca/homelessness-sans-abri/reports-rapports/publications-eng.html -Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0353-01 Homeless Shelter Capacity in Canada from 2016 to 2022, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) (statcan.gc.ca): https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410035301

The By-Name List was created through Built for Zero Canada (https://bfzcanada.ca/by-name-lists/) and is powered by the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH). The By-Name List is a collaborative effort through various local agencies to use real-time data to reduce and prevent homelessness to provide streamlines access to available support. Although data is collected in real-time this data set provides an aggregated monthly update.

In 2016, the number of residents in homeless shelters in Canada varied by province. In that year, there were ***** residents in all homeless shelters in Ontario, compared to ** in Nunavut.

The Street Needs Assessment (SNA) is a survey and point-in-time count of people experiencing homelessness in Toronto on April 26, 2018. The results provide a snapshot of the scope and profile of the City's homeless population. The results also give people experiencing homelessness a voice in the services they need to find and keep housing. The 2018 SNA is the City's fourth homeless count and survey and was part of a coordinated point-in-time count conducted by communities across Canada and Ontario. The results of the 2018 Street Needs Assessment were summarized in a report and key highlights slide deck. During the course of the night, a 23 core question survey was completed with 2,019 individuals experiencing homelessness staying in shelters (including provincially-administered Violence Against Women shelters), 24-hour respite sites (including 24-hour women's drop-ins and the Out of the Cold overnight program open on April 26, 2018), and outdoors. The SNA includes individuals experiencing absolute homelessness but does not capture hidden homelessness (i.e., people couch surfing or staying temporarily with others who do not have the means to secure permanent housing). This dataset includes the SNA survey results; it does not include the count of people experiencing homelessness in Toronto. The SNA employs a point-in-time methodology for enumerating homelessness that is now the standard for most major US and Canadian urban centres. While a consistent methodology and approach has been used each year in Toronto, changes were made in 2018, in part, as a result of participation in the national and provincial coordinated point-in-time count. As a result, caution should be made in comparing these results to previous SNA survey results. Key changes included: administering the survey in a representative sample (rather than census) of shelters; administering the survey in all 24-hour respite sites and a sample of refugee motel programs added to the homelessness service system since the 2013 SNA; and a standard set of core survey questions that communities were required to follow to ensure comparability. In addition, in 2018, surveys were not conducted in provincially-administered health and treatment facilities and correctional facilities as was done in 2013. The 2018 survey results provide a valuable source of information about the service needs of people experiencing homelessness in Toronto. This information is used to improve the housing and homelessness programs provided by the City of Toronto and its partners to better serve our clients and more effectively address homelessness. Visit https://www.toronto.calcity-government/data-research-maps/research-reports/housing-and-homelessness-research-and-reports/

In 2016, the number of homeless support sector workers in Canada varied across all provinces. In that year, Ontario had the highest number of homeless support sector workers, having had ***** employees.

Percent distribution of homeless individuals by episodes of homelessness, according to selected characteristics, Nipissing District, Ontario 2021.

The amount of federal funding provided to Ontario and its communities for housing and homelessness programs. Funds are itemized by program. The federal government provides funding to provinces / territories for affordable and social housing programs through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Current programs include social housing and the Investment in Affordable Housing Program. Projections for 2014-15 and beyond are also included.

Percent distribution of homeless individuals by sleeping location, according to selected characteristics, Nipissing District, Ontario 2021.

Percent distribution of homeless individuals by reason for housing loss, according to selected characteristics, Nipissing District, Ontario 2021.

In 2016, the number of homeless support sector workers in Canada varied by levels of education. In that year, ***** homelessness support sector workers had a trade school, college, or non-university certificate or diploma.

The amount of federal funding provided to Ontario and its communities for housing and homelessness programs. Funds are itemized by program. The federal government provides funding to provinces / territories for affordable and social housing programs through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Current programs include social housing and the Investment in Affordable Housing Program. Projections for 2014-15 and beyond are also included.

The data on this dashboard is divided into seven sections: demographics, housing pressures, housing supply, experiences of homelessness, shelter demand and occupancy, housing solutions, and the Centralized Wait List. Data for this dashboard was collected from a number of sources, including administrative data from the City of Ottawa, and publicly available data from Statistics Canada and the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, among other public data sources.Date Created: June 27th 2025 Update Frequency: Annually Last Reviewed: June 27th 2025Accuracy, Completeness, and Known Issues: The Housing Needs Assessment dashboard relies on data from Statistics Canada (Census), Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), municipal administrative datasets, and local housing market information. Many data points include disaggregation by various demographic characteristics, including household characteristics, housing core need, the Point-in-Time count of people experiencing homelessness, shelter system capacity and demand sourced from the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS), and the Centralized Wait List. Some data points, such as average rent prices and housing stock amounts cannot be further aggregated using demographic characteristics. More information regarding data quality and methodology can be found within the full Housing Needs Assessment report.Attributes: The following data tables have been provided for the dataset, and are organized into themes.Demographics:Population by Age GroupHouseholdsImmigrant PopulationIncomeHousing Pressures:Housing CostsConsumer Price IndexVacancy RateHousing Supply:Housing DevelopmentHousing StockExperiences of Homelessness:Experiences of HomelessnessShelter Demand and Occupancy:Shelter Demand and CapacityShelter Average Length of StayHousing Solutions:Affordable and Supportive Units BuiltRent-Geared-to-Income and Housing BenefitsCentralized Wait List:Clients on Centralized Wait ListNew Centralized Wait List ApplicationsHoused from Centralized WaitlistData Steward: Liam McGuireData Steward Email: liam.mcguire@ottawa.caDepartment or Agency: Community and Social ServicesBranch/Unit: Housing Data, Research and Analytics Unit