By Kaley Langille | July 20, 2025
Toronto’s homelessness crisis has escalated sharply, with the number of unhoused individuals more than doubling between 2021 and 2024, according to the city’s latest Street Needs Assessment.
The survey, conducted in October 2024, estimates that over 15,400 people were experiencing homelessness in Toronto-up from just 7,300 in April 2021.
🔍 A Systemic Breakdown
According to the report, this surge reflects “the failure of multiple systems,” including affordable housing, health care, mental health services, income support, and the justice system.
“People are left with nowhere to turn,” the city noted, “and the shelter system or staying outdoors becomes the last resort.”
Toronto’s findings mirror trends seen across Ontario and Canada, where the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflationary pressures have worsened housing instability and shelter demand.
📊 Overrepresented Communities
The survey highlights alarming disparities. While Indigenous people make up just 3% of Toronto’s population, they account for 9% of the city’s homeless population. Similarly, 58% of people experiencing homelessness identified as Black, despite Black residents representing just 10% of the city’s overall demographic.
🏚️ Root Causes: Income, Health, and Housing
The most frequently cited reason for losing housing was lack of income.
Health issues were also prevalent:
- Mental health challenges
- Chronic illnesses
- Substance use disorders
These overlapping issues make long-term housing stability especially difficult without comprehensive wraparound supports.
📉 Signs of Progress
While the data paints a dire picture, the city reports early signs of improvement, citing:
- A drop in encampments
- Fewer refugee claimants in shelters
- Over 4,300 individuals housed in 2024
- 1,078 people moved from outdoor encampments into the shelter system
To meet rising demand, Toronto plans to open up to 20 new shelters over the next decade. These will be smaller, cost-effective, and tailored to community needs. Seven locations have already been chosen.
🏠 What Could Have Helped?
According to the report, individuals said they could have avoided homelessness with access to:
- Rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing
- Legal support for tenants
- Employment and education programs
These insights support calls for long-term structural solutions, not just short-term shelter responses.
🔔 Provincial Context
Toronto’s numbers form part of a much broader emergency. In 2024, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) estimated that over 80,000 people in Ontario were homeless.
The AMO has urged all levels of government to rethink their approach—moving away from temporary shelters toward permanent, affordable housing models.
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