67% of Canadians Recognize Homelessness as a Housing Issue Needing Immediate Action
January 31, 2025
In part three of our series examining the current state of housing in Canada, we focus our attention on homelessness. This study, which engaged 6,000 Canadian adults (aged 18 and older) and was conducted between September 26 and October 9, 2024, in partnership with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH), the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada), and the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).
This report highlights the growing urgency of homelessness in Canada, which has emerged as a top concern among Canadians, surpassing issues like crime, immigration, and climate change. The findings highlight the increasing visibility of homelessness, and the widespread recognition that it is driven largely by systemic challenges, such as unaffordable housing. As Canadians call for action, there is strong support for government intervention, with many viewing access to shelter as a fundamental right for all Canadians.
Top Insights
- Homelessness as a Top Concern: 23% of Canadians rank homelessness as one of the top three national issues, placing it ahead of crime, immigration, and climate change.
- Increasing Visibility: 67% of Canadians report seeing homelessness in their communities, with higher visibility in urban areas and provinces like Ontario and British Columbia.
- Growing Fear of Housing Insecurity: 57% of Canadians worry about losing their home, with concerns particularly high among younger Canadians and those in lower-income brackets.
- Support for Government Action: 67% of Canadians agree that homelessness is a housing issue that requires immediate government intervention, emphasizing the need for coordinated, multi-level government efforts.
Homelessness as a Top Concern in Canada
Homelessness has become one of the top concerns for Canadians, with 23% ranking it as one of the top three issues the country faces, making it the fifth most significant issue overall. This places it ahead of concerns like crime and public safety (17%), immigration (17%), and climate change (13%), highlighting the urgency of addressing this crisis.
The issue is especially pressing in certain provinces, with 26% of Ontarians and 24% of British Columbians identifying homelessness as a primary concern. Urban residents are also more likely to prioritize homelessness, with 27% in cities ranking it above concerns like the economy (24%).

The Growing Visibility of Homelessness Across Canada
67% of Canadians indicate that homelessness is prevalent within their communities., with urban residents and those in British Columbia and Ontario more likely to perceive it as “very” prevalent. In British Columbia, 35% of residents see it as a highly visible problem, while 32% of urban dwellers and 28% of Ontarians share similar views. As the issue becomes more noticeable, it signals a broader recognition of homelessness as a pressing concern in Canada.

Furthermore, over half of Canadians (54%) have observed a rise in homelessness over the past year in their community, with British Columbia (60%) and Ontario (57%) residents more likely to have observed an increase in homelessness. This rise in visibility is noted across the political spectrum, with both Conservative (59%) and NDP (60%) supporters at the federal level acknowledging the increase, although Liberal supporters are less likely to recognize this rise, with only 48% noting the trend.

Fears of Homelessness and Housing Insecurity
Concerns about homelessness in Canada go beyond its rising prevalence in communities, highlighting broader fears related to the housing crisis, inflation, and the cost of living – 57% of Canadians worry about losing their home or rental if their financial situation were to change. This concern is especially pronounced among younger Canadians, with 65% of those aged 18-29 and 71% of those aged 30-44 expressing fear. Lower-income individuals (65%) and residents of British Columbia (63%) and Ontario (61%) are also most concerned, reflecting the impact of high housing costs in these regions.


The fear of displacement extends beyond losing ones current home or rental unit, with one in five Canadians worried about experiencing homelessness if their financial situation worsens. This concern is especially high among younger middle-aged groups (25% of those aged 30-44) and those earning less than $50,000 (29%). These findings emphasize the growing insecurity around housing, underlining the need for stronger support systems to prevent homelessness and protect vulnerable Canadians.

Compassion and Complexity: Understanding the Causes of Homelessness in Canada
The majority of Canadians express compassion for those experiencing homelessness, with 59% showing concern and 56% feeling sympathy. Only 13% have negative feelings, indicating that most Canadians view homelessness with empathy rather than judgment and negativity.

Canadians are increasingly acknowledging that homelessness is primarily a housing issue, driven by systemic challenges. In fact, 61% of Canadians believe homelessness is mainly caused by systemic issues such as unaffordable housing or job loss. This growing awareness emphasizes that homelessness is fundamentally a housing problem, highlighting the urgent need for solutions focused on expanding affordable housing and addressing the housing crisis, with many Canadians believing that tackling the housing crisis is key to resolving homelessness.

Addressing Homelessness: A National Priority and a Human Right
Finding viable solutions to homelessness has become a high priority for many Canadians, with 68% considering it a top issue that requires immediate attention. While NDP (76%) and Liberal Party of Canada (71%) supporters are particularly focused on addressing homelessness, a majority of Conservative supporters (62%) also recognize its urgency. This growing consensus highlights the recognition that homelessness is a critical social issue demanding immediate action.

The growing perception that homelessness is a matter of basic human rights is evident, with 63% of Canadians who prioritize solutions believing that access to shelter and security should be guaranteed. Additionally, 62% see it as an escalating problem requiring immediate action, and 59% believe that reducing homelessness will enhance overall community well-being. This shift highlights a deepening understanding that addressing homelessness not only benefits individuals but also strengthens society as a whole.

Furthermore, a significant 83% of Canadians agree that everyone deserves a place to call home, with 78% viewing housing as a basic human right. In contrast, only 30% believe that the government should not fund others’ housing, reflecting a growing belief that the government has a key role in solving homelessness and ensuring that everyone has access to a safe place to live.

Government Action: A Call for Provincial and Federal Responsibility
A clear majority of Canadians (67%) believe that homelessness is fundamentally a housing issue that requires immediate government intervention. This sentiment is especially strong among NDP supporters (73%), while a significant portion of Conservative Party of Canada (58%) and Liberal Party of Canada (59%) supporters also emphasize the importance of government action. This widespread consensus highlights the expectation that the government must step in to address the homelessness crisis.

Furthermore, Canadians overwhelmingly agree that tackling homelessness is a shared responsibility across various levels of government. 61% of Canadians hold the provincial government accountable, 60% believe the federal government must play a critical role, and 56% see municipal governments as responsible for addressing this issue. This broad recognition underscores the need for a coordinated, multi-level government response to homelessness, with both provincial and federal governments playing central roles in finding effective solutions.

Finding a Solution: Optimism and Support for Action on Homelessness
A large majority of Canadians (79%) are optimistic about the possibility of reducing homelessness, with 10% believing it can be completely eliminated. Only 13% of Canadians believe that homelessness is so bad that we will never be able to manage it, indicating an optimistic outlook on potential solutions and a belief that meaningful change is possible.

To address homelessness, Canadians emphasize the need for coordinated and comprehensive strategies. A significant 57% support a national plan with specific targets for reducing homelessness across all levels of government, while 52% favor expanding federal programs to help individuals transition into stable housing. Additionally, 42% support providing financial assistance to those at risk of losing their homes. These findings reflect a growing consensus that addressing homelessness requires a mix of immediate intervention and long-term, strategic planning.

The Upshot
Homelessness in Canada has become an urgent issue, increasingly seen as part of the broader housing crisis. Canadians recognize that a lack of affordable housing, high costs, and systemic barriers are the main drivers of homelessness in Canada today. As awareness grows, so does the demand for well-thought, long-term solutions, rather than relying on the use of punitive measures. Most Canadians view access to safe, affordable housing as a basic human right, shifting the focus from temporary measures such as using enforcement to clear encampments to developing sustainable strategies that prioritize stability and support.
Canadians agree that homelessness requires coordinated action from all levels of government, with provinces and the federal government taking the lead. A holistic approach must address both the immediate crisis and long-term structural issues, including expanding affordable housing, providing financial support, and implementing prevention programs to ensure long-term housing stability.
As visibility grows and concern over housing insecurity intensifies, the need for action has never been more urgent. Canada’s approach must go beyond increasing housing supply and focus on addressing the root causes of insecurity. By working together, governments at all levels can create an environment where all Canadians have access to safe, stable housing, moving us closer to resolving homelessness and ensuring a secure future for all. With a coordinated, thoughtful approach, Canada can make meaningful progress in resolving homelessness and building a more secure future for everyone.
Methodology
The survey was conducted with 6,000 Canadian adults from September 26 to October 9, 2024. A random sample of panelists were invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.
The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 1.27%, 19 times out of 20.
The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region.
This survey was paid for by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH), and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada).
Abacus Data follows the CRIC Public Opinion Research Standards and Disclosure Requirements that can be found here: https://canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca/standards/
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