Homelessness in northern Ontario has increased by nearly 120 per cent since 2021, more than double the provincial rate.
That’s according to a new report published by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association, and the Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association.
Officials say the updated findings show that homelessness is rising faster than housing supply, prevention initiatives, and support systems can respond, with northern Ontario experiencing the most significant impacts.
“The numbers are clear, and they match what we see every day in Nipissing District,” says Mark King, DNSSAB Board Chair. “When deeply affordable and supportive homes are limited, people stay homeless longer. That impacts residents, local businesses, and municipal budgets.”
The board is calling on provincial and federal partners to work with them so the north can stabilize and grow.
