Monitoring the right to housing for people with disabilities - Homelessness

Homelessness

Are people with disabilities at greater risk of homelessness? Do homeless shelters and services meet their needs?

Homelessness means not having a stable, safe, and permanent place to live. People can experience homelessness in many ways. For example, people can sleep outside or in shelters. This is called “visible homelessness.” Or people can temporarily stay with friends or family, but not have a permanent place to live. This is called “hidden homelessness”. Visit the Homeless Hub to learn more.

Goal:People with disabilities are less at risk of homelessness. Homeless shelters and services meet their needs.
International law sources:
- Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) - Adequate standard of living and social protection
- Article 11(1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) - Adequate standard of living
- Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - Right to life
- United Nations General Comment on Article 6 of the ICCPR
- United Nations General Assembly Resolution on inclusive policies and programs to address homelessness (Dec 2021)
- United Nations Guidelines for the Implementation of the Right to Adequate Housing - Guideline on homelessness

Outcome indicators

Experiences of homelessness for people with disabilities
- Description: This looks at people who have experienced homelessness. It also includes hidden homelessness. That is when a person lives with someone temporarily but does not have a permanent home. Starting in 2024, Infrastructure Canada's Point-In-Time count will also have updated disability screening questions.
- Results:
  - People with disabilities are four times more likely to experience homelessness than people without disabilities. In 2021, 4% of people with disabilities said they experienced homelessness in their lifetime. This is compared to 1% of people without disabilities.
    - Data source: Canadian Housing Survey (2021): Homelessness. Starting in 2024, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada’s Point-In-Time Count on homelessness will also collect data on people with disabilities.
  - People with disabilities are more than two times more likely to experience hidden homelessness than people without disabilities. In 2021, of the people who experienced hidden homelessness in their lifetime, 5% were people with disabilities and 2% were people without disabilities.
    - Data source: Canadian Housing Survey (2021): Homelessness
See our handout on homelessness.
Percentage of people with disabilities in homeless shelters who feel that shelters and services meet their needs
- Description: This looks at people who feel that homeless shelters and services meet their needs.
- Results: Not available. This data is not currently collected through national or provincial / territorial surveys. We are advocating for better data collection and transparency in this area.
Duration of homelessness
- Description: This looks at the length of time that people experienced homelessness. This includes chronic homelessness (6 months or more) and temporary homelessness (less than 6 months).
- Results:
  - People with disabilities experience chronic and temporary homelessness for similar lengths of time as people without disabilities. Of all the people who experienced homelessness:
    - Chronic homelessness: 36% of the people with disabilities said their longest period of homelessness was more than 6 months. This is compared to 34% of the people without disabilities.
    - Temporary homelessness: 64% of the people with disabilities said their longest period of homelessness was less than 6 months. This is compared to 66% of the people without disabilities.
      - Data source: Canadian Housing Survey (2021): Homelessness
Reasons for homelessness
- Description: This looks at the reasons why people experienced homelessness. For example, this can include issues with a person's finances, health or relationships. It can include conflicts with landlords and issues with housing conditions. It can also include issues related to institutionalization.
- Results: Many people with disabilities experience homelessness because of issues with relationship breakdowns, money, health and landlords. In 2021:
  - Relationship breakdowns were a main reason for homelessness for 46% of people with disabilities. This is compared to 30% of people without disabilities.
  - Money was a main reason for 45% of people with disabilities. This is compared to 40% of people without disabilities.
  - Health was a main reason for 20% of people with disabilities. This is compared to 9% of people without disabilities.
  - Landlord issues were a main reason for 10% of people with disabilities. This is compared to 8% of people without disabilities.
    - Data source: Canadian Housing Survey (2021): Homelessness
Number of people with disabilities who have experienced homelessness but who now have acceptable housing
- Description: This looks at people who have experienced homelessness but have now found acceptable housing. Acceptable housing means housing that is big enough and affordable, and that does not need major repairs.
- Results: Many people with disabilities who have experienced homelessness have not found acceptable housing. In 2021, only 44% of people with disabilities who had experienced homelessness found acceptable housing. This is compared to 52% of people without disabilities.
  - Data source: Canadian Housing Survey (2021): Homelessness

Policy effort and resource indicators

In development

Go to the Indicators and results of the Main page: Monitoring framework

Date modified:: 2024-11-28