20/07/2025
House of Cards: Stability Can Collapse Quickly
By Peter Yurek, BSc.Phm.
According to More Than Circumstance and Toward Common Ground, Southern Ontario experiences three forms of homelessness, as defined by many regional studies:
• Chronic homelessness – Individuals who are without permanent housing for six months or more, or repeatedly homeless over several years. In 2024, over half of the known homeless in Ontario fit this classification, and nearly one-quarter are youth under 25.
• Episodic homelessness – Individuals who cycle in and out of homelessness, perhaps due to a combination of factors like job loss, relationship issues, or mental health challenges.
• Transitional homelessness – Short-term experiences typically lasting less than a month. These tend to be one-time events, often triggered by sudden crises.
Here’s the alarming news. Southern Ontario saw a 46% rise in known homelessness since 2016, reaching around 76,000 in 2024, with most individuals in urban centres. In the same period, our rural areas saw homelessness grow more than 150% — though rates are lower than urban levels.
We all hope that various levels of government and service providers tailor their responses—from crisis shelters and short-term housing to long-term supportive housing for those facing chronic and episodic homelessness.
But if you have the means—time, money, space, or influence—you can also make a difference. Whether it’s supporting local shelters, funding transitional housing programs, hiring someone who is rebuilding their life, or advocating for better policies, every effort matters. Homelessness isn't just a housing issue—it's a community issue. And we’ll all feel a lot better when those who can help, do.
