Toronto Public Health releases updated data for deaths of people experiencing homelessness in Toronto

Toronto Public Health (TPH) is releasing data related to the deaths of people experiencing homelessness in an updated interactive dashboard. TPH has reported on this data since 2017, with this update incorporating data from the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario (OCC) that was not previously available. These numbers summarize death investigations among people identified as experiencing homelessness and provide more complete counts. This has resulted in updated numbers for 2022 and 2023 and new counts for the first half of 2024.  

Trends in Toronto continue to show that people experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of dying prematurely and suffer a higher incidence of chronic and acute health issues.  

Insights from the data: 

• From January to June 2024, there were 135 reported deaths among people experiencing homelessness. 
• The median age at death for people experiencing homelessness was 50 years of age for males and 36 years of age for females. The female median age at death was considerably younger than in the previous two years (42 years of age in 2022 and 43 years of age in 2023). In the general population in Toronto, the median age at death was 78 years of age for males and 85 years of age for females in 2022. 
• Drug toxicity remains the leading cause of death among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto, contributing to 54 per cent of deaths in the first half of 2024. This is consistent with previous years (53 per cent in 2022 and 56 per cent in 2023). 
• Toronto’s Drug Checking Service continues to indicate worsening and unpredictable contamination of the unregulated opioid supply.  

TPH previously reported counts of 189 deaths in 2022 and 150 deaths in 2023. These data were comprised of community reports and data from Toronto Shelter and Support Services’ deaths of shelter residents. With the newly available OCC data, the updated numbers are 331 reported deaths in 2022 and 300 reported deaths in 2023. TPH’s interactive dashboard now presents a more complete count for deaths of people experiencing homelessness in Toronto. 
 
Taking action on homelessness and expanding shelter and housing supports 

The City continues to invest in health and safety in shelter settings and street outreach to support those living outside and connect people with immediate shelter and housing. In addition, Toronto’s Board of Health recently endorsed recommendations from the Medical Officer of Health to share insights from the Health and Homelessness Working Table (HHWT) with sector partners and other levels of government. The HHWT included individuals with lived experience and experts from health care, research, frontline services and City divisions. More information about the HHWT is available here.  

Other key ongoing actions include:  

• TPH’s harm reduction services that support people who use drugs and are experiencing homelessness.  
• The TPH 2024-2028 Strategic Plan to promote the conditions to support positive mental health and reduce the harms of substance use, and evidence-based approaches to advancing health equity. 
• TPH collaboration with Toronto Shelter and Support Services to equip shelter sites with overdose prevention and harm reduction programs.
• Momentum on City initiatives such as:
  • The Our Health, Our City strategy, launched in 2023, which addresses mental health and substance use while acknowledging the social determinants of health.
  • The HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan which focuses on creating affordable and supportive housing. 

TPH is also partnering with primary care, community clinics and service providers to deliver integrated physical, mental health and harm reduction services. This is in addition to updating the Homelessness Health Services Framework with Ontario Health Toronto Region to enhance coordination and address gaps in harm reduction, mental health and primary care services for shelter users.  

The City and community partners are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of individuals experiencing homelessness. Additional financial support from provincial and federal government partners is critical to address the need for deeply affordable housing and evidence-based health care supports. 

Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on X, Instagram or Facebook.