Homelessness has increased across Ontario, but it’s down in Toronto, report states

Ontario's homeless population grew by 17.9% between 2022-23 and 2024-25, according to a new report by the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario. Toronto experienced the largest decrease, with a 8.2% drop in 2024-25, bringing the city's total to 19,462. Niagara Falls and Durham regions followed with the next-largest declines of 7.0% and 130.0%, respectively.

However, Durham, Peel, and York regions saw significant spikes of 90.5% and 76.6% in homelessness, respectively. The province's deal with Toronto in 2023-24 provided additional support for services, including homeless shelters and a base funding of $701 million in 2025-26. Ottawa also struck a deal with the province, providing up to $240 million per year in 2026-27.

A 2023 Statistics Canada report identified financial issues, relationship issues, and fleeing abuse as the main causes of homelessness in Canada. A 2024 Toronto Street Needs Assessment found that 22% of respondents left their homes after eviction. The surge of refugee and asylum claimants in 2023 and 2024 put significant pressure on shelter systems, with Toronto accommodating 6,490 refugee claimants nightly at its peak in August 2024, representing about 60% of its shelter population.

By 2025, the numbers had decreased significantly as individuals were transferred to federally funded hotels or asylum claimant reception centres. The influx of asylum seekers also led many people experiencing homelessness in Toronto to relocate, with the share of respondents reporting relocation increasing from 5% in 2021 to 31% in 2024.