Homelessness is a complex issue in Toronto, affecting thousands of people each night. It has a long-lasting and devastating impact on some of the city’s most vulnerable people and contributes to health inequities.
Toronto Public Health (TPH) collects and reports on data on deaths of people experiencing homelessness including those in shelters, respite centres, or living outdoors. This data helps us better understand the situation and identify trends.
This dashboard provides the latest data available by the City of Toronto. Data is updated twice a year, typically in March and September. TSSS’ reports of deaths of shelter residents and 24-hour respite site residents is part of TPH’s data and is included in the dashboard.
Data is collected from three primary sources (these sets of data are analyzed to rule out duplications):
While this data is valuable, it likely underestimates the actual number of deaths in the homeless or under-housed population. TPH reports only reflect deaths reported by these sources.
The Office of the Chief Coroner (OCC) for Ontario investigates deaths of people identified as homeless or under-housed. Analyzing this new data confirms that TPH’s current reported numbers are an undercount.
TPH is working to understand the differences between the OCC data and TPH data. This will help improve the accuracy of future reports. The data dashboard will be updated with the latest information, including OCC data, later in 2024.
TPH continues to partner with TSSS to support the health and well-being of those experiencing homelessness. Additionally, TPH collaborates with City of Toronto’s Housing Secretariat to support the creation of affordable housing.
The information collected may change based on future needs.
TPH takes its responsibility for protecting personal health information very seriously, and protects the privacy of those who have died. Following privacy laws and legislation, we cannot release any other details that might identify an individual. This includes names, dates of birth, locations, causes of death, or any other specific information.
To learn more about how TPH collects, uses, safeguards and discloses health information, please visit our Information Practice Statement on our website.
Homelessness is a complex problem in Toronto which contributes to health inequities. In the past, death data for people experiencing homelessness in Toronto was limited to City-funded shelter residents, providing an incomplete picture. To address this gap, Toronto City Council motion in 2016 directed “City staff to collect all relevant data related to the deaths of homeless individuals within and outside of homeless shelters.”
This data, collected since 2017, includes people who die while living:
By capturing a more complete picture, this data informs better interventions to improve the health and well-being of Toronto’s homeless population.
This initiative characterizes “homelessness” as:
The situation of an individual or family without stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it. It is the result of systemic or societal barriers, a lack of affordable and appropriate housing, the individual/household’s financial, mental, cognitive, behavioural, or physical challenges and/or racism and discrimination. (Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, 2012).
Someone who is temporarily staying with friends or family, or transitioning to new housing, but has experienced long periods without a permanent home, would be considered as experiencing homelessness.
Deaths of shelter residents are submitted by TSSS on a quarterly basis and included in the Deaths of People Experiencing Homelessness Dashboard.