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 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.

In 2016, there were 6,475 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.

Homelessness and Hidden Homelessness in Rural and Northern Ontario is the first study of its kind to empirically challenge these popular perceptions. In fact, as the analysis of data from the recent Canadian Social Survey demonstrates, compared to city dwellers, a higher percentage of people from rural Ontario reported that they had experienced homelessness or hidden homelessness at some point in their lives. The research carried out for this report was based on a survey of service providers (with responses from 204 service providers and 30 service managers), focus groups (with 76 key sector stakeholders), and interviews (with 40 people who had experience of homelessness or hidden homelessness) in 10 communities in northwestern, northeastern, southwestern, and southeastern Ontario. This was augmented by an analysis of Ontario data from Canada’s General Social Survey. The causes of homelessness in rural and northern Ontario were found to be similar to those in big cities: poverty, mental illness and addictions, lack of affordable housing and domestic violence. The study also revealed that many Indigenous peoples are at risk of homelessness and hidden homelessness, particularly those living in northern areas of the province.

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 duration of homelessness, according to selected characteristics, Nipissing District, Ontario 2021.

The dataset described testing, infection and complication rates of COVID-19 among people with a recent history of homelessness in Ontario

Starting in January 2017, Toronto Public Health (TPH) began tracking the deaths of people experiencing homelessness to get a more accurate estimate of the number of deaths and their causes. TPH leads the data collection, analysis and reporting. The Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) and health and social service agencies that support people experiencing homelessness share information about a death with TPH and the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario (OCCO) verifies some of the data. For this data collection initiative, homelessness is defined as “the situation of an individual or family without stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it”.

People experiencing homelessness often come from time- and labour-intensive cross-sectional counts and surveys from selected samples. This study uses comprehensive administrative health data from emergency department (ED) visits to enumerate people experiencing homelessness and characterize demographic and geographic trends in the province of Ontario, Canada, from 2010 to 2017. Data and methods People experiencing homelessness were identified by their postal code, designated as "XX." Outcomes included the number of people experiencing homelessness stratified by year and week, gender and age plotted annually, the location of each ED visit, and composition changes in demographics and geographic distribution

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.

Starting in January 2017, Toronto Public Health (TPH) began tracking the deaths of people experiencing homelessness to get a more accurate estimate of the number of deaths and their causes. TPH leads the data collection, analysis and reporting. The Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) and health and social service agencies that support people experiencing homelessness share information about a death with TPH and the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario (OCCO) verifies some of the data. For this data collection initiative, homelessness is defined as “the situation of an individual or family without stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it”.

IntroductionThe objective of this study was to utilize the data generated by the City of Toronto, Street Needs Assessment conducted in 2021 to explore the prevalence, causes, experiences, and characteristics of 2-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (2SLGBTQ+) individuals experiencing homelessness in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.MethodsData was collected by the City of Toronto during its Street Needs Assessment in April 2021. The Street Needs Assessment is a needs assessment survey and Point-in-Time count of people experiencing homelessness across the city of Toronto. Homelessness included any individual who was sleeping outdoors or staying in City-administered emergency/transitional shelters and shelter motels/hotels on the night of data collection. The Street Needs Assessment survey was administered to clients by trained shelter and outreach staff using a computer or mobile device. To ensure that survey questions were 2SLGBTQ+ inclusive, questions on sexual orientation, gender identity, and 2SLGBTQ+ identity were included in the survey.ResultsTwo hundred and eighty-eight 2SLGBTQ+ individuals completed the survey. Compared to non-2SLGBTQ+ individuals experiencing homelessness, 2SLGBTQ+ respondents were younger at the time of survey completion and when they first experienced homelessness, were more likely to have been in foster care or a group home, reported higher rates of conflict with and/or abuse by a parent/guardian as their main pathway into homelessness, and were more likely to experience chronic homelessness.ConclusionOur study results demonstrate that Street Needs Assessments and Point-in-Time counts can be used to examine homelessness in marginalized populations, including 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and that sexual orientation and gender identity questions need to be included on future government surveys. The consistency of findings from this study and previous research suggests that 2SLGBTQ+ individuals experience a significant need for population-based housing and social support services aimed at meeting the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ populations.

BackgroundEquity-deserving groups (EDGs) have increased emergency department (ED) use, and often report negative ED care. Past studies have largely been qualitative and suffer from methodological bias and lack of comparison groups, thereby limiting their identification of interventions to ensure equitable care among equity-deserving populations. This study sought to better understand ED care experiences among EDGs in our local setting.Materials and methodsWe conducted a community-engaged, mixed-methods cross-sectional study using sensemaking methodology at the Kingston Health Sciences Centre's ED and Urgent Care Centre (Ontario, Canada), as well as at community partner organizations. From June-August 2021, eligible participants were invited to complete a survey about an ED care experience within the previous 24 months. Multiple-choice questions collected demographic/ED visit information including self-identification with up to three EDGs (Indigenous; having a disability; experiencing mental health concerns; persons who use substances (PWUS); 2SLGBTQ+; people who experience homelessness (PWEH); a visible minority; or having experienced violence). We evaluated differences in overall ED care experiences by EDG self-identification using chi-squared tests. Quantitative analysis of survey questions disaggregated by EDG status, and a thematic analysis of participant experiences are presented.ResultsOverall, 1,973 unique participants completed the survey (949 controls and 994 EDGs) sharing 2,114 ED care experiences in total. Participants who identified as PWUS, having mental health concerns, 2SLGBTQ+, PWEH, or having a disability, reported more negative overall experiences (p < 0.001). Compared with controls, each of the eight EDGs were statistically more likely to report feelings of judgement/disrespect, that there was too little attention paid to their needs (p < 0.001), and that it was more important to be treated with kindness/respect than to receive the best possible care (p < 0.001). Thematic analysis supported quantitative findings and identified four themes: stigma/judgement, poor staff communication, lack of compassionate care, and patients feeling unsupported.DiscussionNegative ED care experiences were pervasive among EDGs including feelings of judgement/stigma and a perception that a better understanding of personal situation/identity/culture was needed to improve care. Qualitative findings identified the following future interventions: universal trauma-informed care, improved care for addiction/substance use, and improved access to mental health care resources.

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.

Having access to good quality housing is a key determinant of well-being. Little is known about experiences of housing quality following homelessness from the perspectives of persons with lived experience. To build on existing literature, we conducted a secondary analysis of qualitative interviews with 19 individuals who had experiences of transitioning to housing following homelessness. Interview transcripts were drawn from a community-based participatory research study exploring the conditions needed for thriving following homelessness in Ontario, Canada. We analyzed these transcripts using reflexive thematic analysis. We coded transcripts abductively, informed by theories of social justice and health equity. Consistent with reflexive thematic analysis, we identified a central essence to elucidate experiences of housing quality following homelessness: “negotiating control within oppressive structural contexts.” This was expressed through four distinct themes: 1) being forced to live in undesirable living conditions; 2) stuck in an unsafe environment; 3) negotiating power dynamics to attain comfort and safety in one’s housing; and 4) having access to people and resources that create home. Overall, our findings indicate that attaining good quality housing following homelessness is elusive for many and influenced by a range of structural factors including ongoing poverty following homelessness, a lack of deeply affordable housing stock, and a lack of available social support networks. To prevent homelessness, it is essential to improve access to good quality housing that can support tenancy sustainment and well-being following homelessness. Policymakers need to review existing housing policies and reflect on how over-reliance on market housing has imposed negative impacts on the lives of persons who are leaving homelessness. Given the current economic context, it is imperative that policymakers devise policies that mitigate the financialization of housing, and result in the restoration of the social housing system in Canada and beyond.

As part of the Province’s efforts to end chronic homelessness by 2025 and the long-term goal to end homelessness, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing communicated to Service Managers and sector organizations its intention to not only continue with Pointin-Time Counts (PiT) which began in 2017, but also introduce By-Name Lists (BNL) across Ontario in 2021. Local homeless enumeration, said differently, the Point-in-Time method, is more than a tool used to count the number of people experiencing homelessness on a given day/night. It is a strategy used to provide insight into the nature and extent of homelessness within a community. The survey collects data about the demographics, history, and service needs of those experiencing homelessness to help guide decision-makers, planners, and service providers in directing resources to areas of greatest need. In April 2021, an Advisory Group was established in order to provide expertise, guidance, and support regarding the planning and implementation of a successful Point-in-Time (PiT) Count and By-Name List (BNL). In addition, a Lead Coordinator was hired to lead the initiative with the support of the Advisory Group.