The Association of Municipalities of Ontario released the 2025 data on homelessness in Ontario, which found that more than 85,000 Ontarians were homeless in 2025. This figure represents an 8% increase over 2024, and 50% increase over 2021. According to the research, homelessness in Northern Ontario grew by 37% over 2024, and rural homelessness increased more than 30%.
The research was conducted by HelpSeeker Technologies, in partnership with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association and the Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association. According to the study, without significant intervention, homelessness in Ontario could double by 2035, and reach nearly 300,000 people in an economic downturn.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) notes that the homelessness crisis stems from decades of underinvestment in deeply affordable housing, income support and mental health and addictions treatment, combined with escalating economic pressures on communities. According to AMO, Ontario is the only province where responsibility for social housing has been downloaded to municipalities.
AMO’s recommendations:
As per AMO’s 2025 report, Ontario needs a fundamentally new approach that focuses on long-term housing solutions over temporary emergency measures and enforcement:
- An additional $11 billion over 10 years would focus on capital investments to develop more than 75,000 new affordable and supportive housing units, as well as increased funding on prevention efforts.
- To ensure that current encampment residents are quickly and appropriately housed, Ontario needs to invest an additional $2 billion over eight years.
For additional research findings and strategic recommendations, click here.
