Two years after the release of her landmark report on homeless encampments, the Federal Housing Advocate continues to urge all levels of government to do more to address the human rights crisis of homeless encampments in Canada.

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Canada continues to rise. Figures show the number of people living unsheltered has more than doubled in recent years - an increase of 107% between 2020-2022 and 2024. In Ontario alone, a report published in January by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario identified 85,000 people experiencing homelessness in the province in 2025. First Nations, Inuit and Métis people continue to be grossly over-represented in these numbers.

Tragedy and loss underscore the human cost behind these statistics. In January, a 38-year-old mother of three from the Wiikwemkoong First Nation died in a tent fire in Sudbury. More than 100 people experiencing homelessness in New Brunswick died in 2025, and 59 deaths were recorded by the city of Toronto in 2025. Even more concerning is that the true scale of this crisis is not known, as national figures on deaths among people experiencing homelessness are not collected.

These are preventable tragedies. This concerning situation reflects a continued lack of affordable housing, inadequate supports for people with complex needs, and the failure to provide life-saving essential services to people living in encampments.

On March 3rd, the Federal Housing Advocate renews her call for all governments to embed a human rights-based approach in responses to homelessness and encampments. This obligation is set out in the National Housing Strategy Act and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

In particular, there is a need for permanent federal investments and leadership to support this work with the anticipated gap that will be left when the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative ends in March 2026.

The Federal Housing Advocate's renewed calls to action highlight the need to prioritize:

• Long-term federal investments and leadership for human rights-based responses to encampments
• Meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples and investing in preventing and responding to Indigenous homelessness
• Meaningful engagement with people living in encampments
• Ending forced encampment evictions and criminalization of homelessness

These renewed calls to action, initially outlined in the Advocate's 2024 report, build on the work and engagements that have taken place since - including what she has heard are critical issues from municipalities, encampments residents, service providers, and Indigenous representative organizations.

Governments at all levels must continue to advance solutions to address the homelessness and encampments crisis, and provide resources to ensure people in encampments are able to live in safety and dignity.

Two years later, the need for urgent and coordinated responses amongst all governments remains as great now as was when this report was published. More must be done by all levels of government to address the systemic factors that continue to fuel homelessness.

Quote

"The human rights crisis facing people living in encampments has worsened. Short-term funding and enforcement-based responses are not solutions.

Governments must act with urgency and coordination, guided by human rights, dignity, and the lived realities of people experiencing homelessness especially First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples."

Marie-Josée Houle, Federal Housing Advocate

Quick facts

• The 2024 Everyone Counts Homelessness survey found that homelessness in sheltered locations rose by 71% in the 74 participating communities compared to the previous count (2020-2022). The number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness increased by 107%.
• In Ontario alone, 85,000 people are experiencing homelessness in the province, based on a report from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
• First Nations, Inuit and Métis people continue to be grossly over-represented in these numbers.

Related links

• New report recommends permanent federal investments in human rights-based responses to encampments
• Upholding dignity and human rights: the Federal Housing Advocate's review of homeless encampments
• Guide to Meaningful Engagement and Integrating a Human Rights-based Approach into Encampment Responses - Fact Sheets

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