5.2 Prevalence Among Post-Secondary Students in Canada
Prevalence of Homelessness among Post-Secondary Students
There are over 2.17 million post-secondary students in Canada. Yet, research shows that the majority of students are homeless.
- Approximately 5% of students (110,000 students) are homeless every year.
- Approximately 9% of students reported homelessness in the 2021–2022 study (Weissman et al., 2023).
Causes of Homelessness for Post-Secondary Students
Many conditions are the cause of homelessness for students, which often overlap and make the condition complex. The main causes are:
1. Financial Instability
- High tuition fees and living expenses
- Inadequate financial support from family or government aid (HomelessHub, n.d.)
2. Family Disputes
- Separation from family because of abuse, neglect, or conflict
- Breakdown and divorce of support structures
3. Mental Health Issues
- Unstable living conditions due to poorly handled mental health conditions
4. Lack of Affordable Housing
- Minimal student housing availability
- Hyper-expensive rents within the inner city
5. Institutional Barriers
- Limited resources for at-risk students
Findings of the 2025 Study
A new study provides additional insight into emerging student homelessness situations:
- Primary cause: Economic insecurity
- About 20% of students have stayed in unsafe housing situations to maintain a roof over their heads.
- Approximately 15% indicated becoming homeless because of unsafe housing.
- Around 17% had to leave their home country, contributing to housing instability.
- Around 7% lost their homes due to evictions or splits.
- Around 5% showed homelessness due to mental illness. (Weissman et al., 2025)
