Exiting homelessness: Results from the 2022 Canadian Housing Survey

The article "Exiting homelessness: An examination of factors contributing to regaining and maintaining housing," released today, utilizes new data from the 2022 Canadian Housing Survey to describe factors associated with regaining and maintaining housing after episodes of homelessness. Select housing and well-being outcomes are also presented to highlight challenges that remain after regaining housing.

Overall, one in eight households report having experienced some form of homelessness previously

In 2022, 12.1% of households reported some form of homelessness experience in their lifetime. Hidden homelessness, which refers to individuals without permanent addresses who are provisionally accommodated (such as couch surfing), was experienced by 11.2% of households, while 2.6% of households reported they had experienced sheltered or unsheltered homelessness. A smaller proportion (1.6%) reported experiences of both hidden and sheltered or unsheltered homelessness.

One size doesn't fit all, but financial factors help most

In 2022, almost half (46.4%) of people cited more than one factor that, following their most recent sheltered or unsheltered homelessness experience, helped them regain and maintain housing. Nearly one-quarter (22.5%) cited three or more factors. This suggests that the needs of individuals can be complex and multifaceted.

Financial factors, particularly improving employment income for people experiencing sheltered or unsheltered (39.2%) and hidden (45.9%) homelessness, were the contributing factors to regaining housing most cited. Non-financial factors, such as accessing social services, locating more affordable housing and non-financial support from friends and family, also played an important role. Support from social networks, such as financial (22.9%) and non-financial (18.6%) support from friends and family, was also found to be particularly helpful in regaining housing for people with hidden homelessness experiences.