Indigenous Homelessness in Ontario: A Research Brief
Introduction: Indigenous peoples are vastly over‐represented among those experiencing homelessness in Canada and in Ontario. Although Indigenous people comprise roughly 5% of Canada’s population, they accounted for about 31% of emergency shelter users in 2023. In Ontario, a 2025 municipal study estimated that over 80,000 people were homeless in 2024 – a 25% increase since 2022 – and noted that Indigenous people are “disproportionately unhoused” in the province. For example, a 2021 count in Toronto found that 23% of homeless individuals identified as Indigenous. These disparities reflect the fact that Indigenous homelessness is not simply a lack of housing. As scholars note, Indigenous homelessness is rooted in the legacy of colonialism and historical trauma, and involves disconnection from land, culture, family, and community. Addressing Indigenous homelessness, therefore, requires acknowledging these broader dimensions and systemic inequities.
Barriers: Indigenous homelessness in Ontario is driven by overlapping barriers at individual, historical, and structural levels. Centuries of colonial policy – including residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and the displacement of Indigenous peoples – have caused intergenerational trauma, family breakdown, and community dislocation. Many Indigenous families continue to live in substandard, overcrowded, or unaffordable housing on reserves and in Indigenous communities, which pushes people into urban areas where they may face homelessness. Systemic racism and discrimination compound these issues: Indigenous people often encounter racial bias from landlords and service providers, experience high levels of unemployment and poverty, and have lower educational and employment opportunities. For example, in 2022, the poverty rate for Indigenous people (17.5%) was nearly double that of non-Indigenous people (9.6%), and over one in four Indigenous households had experienced homelessness at some point. Overrepresentation in child welfare and criminal justice systems – both risk factors for homelessness – also disproportionately affects Indigenous families. In short, colonial history and ongoing structural inequities – including inadequate housing supply, low income supports, and systemic prejudice – intersect to limit housing stability for Indigenous Ontarians.
Strategies and Solutions: Experts emphasize that preventing and ending Indigenous homelessness requires culturally grounded, holistic approaches. Central to any plan is ensuring an adequate supply of affordable, safe housing with supports. Federal and provincial leaders and Indigenous agencies have called for Indigenous‐led housing initiatives. For example, Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services has urged a commitment to add 22,000 new subsidized homes for Indigenous people by 2035 (all owned and operated by Indigenous housing providers). Similarly, an Indigenous housing coalition recommends roughly 40,000 subsidized units over the next decade, with at least 22,000 managed by Indigenous organizations. These units should include supportive and transitional housing specifically designed for people affected by historical trauma, addictions, or mental health needs. At the same time, maintaining and preserving existing Indigenous‐focused housing (such as rent-geared-to-income “Urban Native Housing” units) is critical.
Beyond housing stock, successful approaches integrate cultural supports and multi-sectoral services. Housing programs for Indigenous people work best when they include community-based case management, healing programs, and opportunities to reconnect with culture and family. As one Indigenous scholar notes, “Indigenous homelessness is not defined as lacking a structure of habitation; rather, it is… understood through a composite lens” that includes loss of connection to land, kin, language and identity. Thus, housing-first models for Indigenous clients often incorporate cultural ceremonies, language classes, and peer support to address trauma and strengthen community ties. Outreach and prevention efforts should be developed in partnership with Indigenous communities, including eviction prevention, tenancy support, and youth diversion programs.
Equitable policy and funding are also essential. Coordinated action between Indigenous leadership, municipal governments, and provincial/federal agencies can ensure resources reach Indigenous-serving agencies. For instance, Canada’s Reaching Home homelessness strategy provides funding envelopes for Indigenous and urban Indigenous organizations to tailor local solutions (though funding has historically been limited). The Assembly of First Nations and Indigenous non-profits have advocated for a National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan and increased investments in on-reserve housing. Finally, cross-sector efforts – linking housing with income support, mental health, addiction treatment, and justice reform – can address root causes. The AMO study noted that Ontario needs “significant, long-term action” on affordable housing, mental health/addictions services, and income supports to fix homelessness.
Conclusion: Indigenous homelessness in Ontario is a deep, systemic issue rooted in colonial legacies and exacerbated by current policy gaps. Recent data underscore the urgency: despite being only 5% of the population, Indigenous people make up a far larger share of those without housing. Addressing this crisis requires increasing affordable housing stock through Indigenous-led, culturally informed frameworks. Holistic strategies – from prioritizing on-reserve housing to funding Indigenous housing providers and integrating healing services – are needed to ensure housing solutions truly meet the needs of Indigenous individuals, families, and communities. With coordinated, well-funded efforts aligned with Indigenous priorities, Ontario can make meaningful progress toward ending Indigenous homelessness.
References
Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. (2021). Toronto: Community profile [Community data]. Homeless Hub. https://homelesshub.ca/community_profile/toronto/
Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. (2025). Indigenous peoples and homelessness. Homeless Hub. https://homelesshub.ca/collection/population-groups/indigenous-peoples/
Espinoza, F. T., & Randle, J. (2025). Exiting homelessness: An examination of factors contributing to regaining and maintaining housing. Housing Statistics in Canada (Vol. 2025001). Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/46-28-0001/2025001/article/00002-eng.htm
Government of Canada, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada. (2024). Homelessness data snapshot: The National Shelter Study 2023 Update. https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/homelessness-sans-abri/reports-rapports/data-shelter-2023-donnees-refuge-eng.html
Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services. (2025a, January 9). AMO releases groundbreaking homelessness study [News release]. https://www.ontarioaboriginalhousing.ca/news/amo-releases-groundbreaking-homelessness-study
Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services. (2025b, February 10). Addressing Ontario’s housing crisis with Indigenous-led solutions [Policy statement]. https://www.ontarioaboriginalhousing.ca/news/addressing-ontarios-housing-crisis-with-indigenous-led-solutions
Association of Municipalities of Ontario. (2025, January 9). AMO launches groundbreaking homelessness study: Ontario at a tipping point with 80,000 homeless [Press release]. https://www.ontarioaboriginalhousing.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/News-Release_AMO-Launches-Comprehensive-Study-of-Homelessness-Crisis-January-9-2025.pdf
Comments
Post a Comment