Homelessness

Point in Time Connection

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Homelessness Policy & Programs
Call 905-546-2424 ext. 4666
Email [email protected]

From November 4 to 8, 2024, the City of Hamilton participated in the national Point-in-Time Count of Homelessness, known locally as the Point-in-Time Connection (PiTC). This project was led by the City’s Housing Services Division and the Coalition of Hamilton Indigenous Leadership (CHIL).

The PiTC has two parts: a count and a survey. The count records the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night, while the survey provides a detailed snapshot of homelessness in our city by gathering essential information about an individual’s housing history, health and social needs. In addition, CHIL hosted an Indigenous Magnet Event to offer Indigenous people experiencing homelessness a more culturally safe and appropriate opportunity to participate in the PiTC.

This data helps us better understand homelessness, track changes over time, allocate resources effectively and improve support services. It also complements local prevention and reduction strategies.

Background

The PiTC aligns with Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy and the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s directive on the enumeration of homelessness. It also supports Hamilton’s Housing and Homelessness Action
Plan, which is currently being updated.
Hamilton was the second community in Ontario to undertake homelessness enumeration in 2016 and one of the first to put in place a Coordinated Access system using By-Name Data.
The 2024 PiTC used the same core methodology as previous PiTCs in 2016, 2018, and 2021, with enhancements for more culturally sensitive and relationship-based surveys.

On November 4, 2024, the enumeration counted 1,216 people experiencing homelessness in Hamilton on that day.

Between November 4 and November 18, 2024, 807 valid PiTC surveys were voluntarily completed with individuals experiencing homelessness in the City of Hamilton, representing 66% of the enumerated population.

Surveys were completed with support from staff working in shelters, drop-ins, and Housing Services Division teams. In addition, the Coalition of Hamilton Indigenous Leadership held an Indigenous magnet event at Beasley Park on November 18 to provide an opportunity for Indigenous community members to be surveyed by Indigenous surveyors. In addition to the snapshot of key data points, a more detailed analysis comparing the 2024 PiTC to the 2021 results is available in the report linked below.

Infographic Description

Age

16-24: 9%
25-30: 12%
31-49: 48%
50-64: 19%
65+: 4%
Unclear/declined to answer/don’t know: 9%

Gender Identity

Woman: 40%
Man: 57%
Trans: 0.4%
Two-Spirit: 0.2%
Non-binary (Genderqueer): 1%
Not listed/don’t know/ declined to answer: 1.5%
24% reported Indigenous identity or ancestry
33% reported identifying as a member of a racialized group
23% came to Canada as an immigrant, refugee, asylum claimant or other process

Did you have family members or anyone else who stayed with you last night?

Single: 68%
Family head: 15%
Child/dependent: 16%
Partner: 6%
Other adult: 4%
Pet: 1%
Declined to answer: 2%

Where did you stay last night?

Homeless shelter: 54%
Encampment: 20%
Unsheltered: 11%
Transition shelter/housing: 4%
Someone else’s place: 4%
Hotel/Motel funded by City or program: 3%
Vehicle: 1%
Other or unsure: 1%
45% reported being homeless every day of the year
32% reported living unsheltered or in encampments in the past year
87% reported relying on government assistance or benefits as source of income

Length of time in Hamilton

Less than 6 months: 17%
6-12 months: 7%
1-5 years: 10%
5+ years: 24%
Always been here: 37%
Don’t know/declined to answer: 2%

Top 3 reasons for most recent housing loss

Housing and financial issues: 31%
Interpersonal conflict: 31%
Health or corrections: 12%

Top 5 barriers to finding housing

Rents too high: 25%
Low income: 23%
Discrimination: 7%
Mental health issues:6%
No income assistance:6%

Health

83% reported having at least one difficulty related to a health challenge
59% reported having difficulties relating to mental health
50% reported difficulties related to substance use
32% reported 4 or more health difficulties

Interactions within the community

37% reported police interactions
14% reported time in jail
31% reported hospitalizations
50% reported emergency room visits
25% reported experiences with foster care

Documents & Reports

545 surveys were completed during the week at emergency shelters, drop-in programs, community agencies, and in unsheltered locations. Indigenous led magnet event was also held in Beasley Park on November 17 to provide an opportunity for Indigenous community members to be surveyed by Indigenous surveyors.

Point in time connection Survey Infographics

Infographic Description

Did you have any family members or anyone else who stayed with you last night?

None / single: 431
Family: 94
Partner: 8
Other adult: 12

Where did you stay last night?

Emergency Shelter: 298
Hotel/motel - City funded: 68
Unsheltered: 60
Transitional shelter / housing: 52
Encampment 35
Someone else's place: 15
Other - non permanent: 17

Age

16-24: 10%
25-30: 12%
31-49: 51%
50-64: 23%
65+: 4%

Gender Identity

Woman: 53%
Man: 45%
Non-binary:2%
Trans, Two-spirit:1%

Indigenous Ancestory

23% Identified as Indigenous or having Indigenous ancestory

Impacts of COVID

77 people who report that their most recent housing loss is related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Health

40% of those surveyed reported having a chronic illness or health condition
270 respondents had been to an emergency room in the last 12 months, with a cumulative total of 787 ER visits.

Top 3 reasons for most recent housing loss

Not enough income
Landlord/tenant conflict
Unfit/unsafe housing conditions

Top 5 barriers to find housing

Rent to high
Low income
No income assistance
Poor housing conditions
Discrimination

Homeless for 6 months or more in the past year

304 People

City of Hamilton Point in Time Connection Results - 2021(PDF, 1.09 MB)
In keeping with the principles of Indigenous data sovereignty, as directed by the Indigenous Community Advisory Board (ICAB), CHIL will continue to lead the analysis of Indigenous respondent data and the City of Hamilton will not use this data without the approval of the ICAB. See below for the full analysis of Indigenous respondent data, completed by CHIL and approved by the ICAB:
2021 Point in Time Count Indigenous Responses – Hamilton(PDF, 1.15 MB)
2021 PiT Infographic - Indigenous Respondents(PDF, 800.43 KB)

During the initiative, 235 volunteers and professional social service staff canvassed Hamilton’s urban, suburban and rural areas, emergency shelters, drop-in programs and community agencies. Together we surveyed 338 individuals and completed 48 family surveys. This initiative continues to support the efforts of the 20,000 Homes Campaign.

Infographic Description

Gender Identity

Male 66%
Female 32%,
Trans, Two Spirited

Age

16 to 24: 13%
25 to 30: 12%
31 to 49: 39%
50 to 64: 32%
65+: 4%

Health

45% of those surveyed reported having a chronic health condition. This is more than 2x higher than the overall Canadian population

Length of homelessness

Less than 1 year: 150 people
1 to 2 years: 49
2 to 3 years: 27
3 to 4 year: 23
4 to 5 years: 6
More than 5 years: 38

Aboriginal ancestory

22% Reported having aboriginal ancestory

Barriers to Housing

78% People do not have enough money to meet housing needs

Severity of Issues

100 People surveyed reported having sever issues and conditions that impact their housing stability

The Point in Time Connection continues to support a national campaign led by the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness to house 20,000 of Canada’s most vulnerable people experiencing homelessness by July 1, 2020. Hamilton was one of the first cities in Canada to pilot 20,000 Homes.

263 volunteers and professional social service staff canvassed Hamilton’s urban, suburban and rural areas, emergency shelters, hospitals and community agencies. Together we surveyed 504 individuals experiencing homelessness. Hamilton’s count continues to support the efforts of the 20,000 Homes Campaign.

Infographic Description

Gender Identity

Male 72%
Female 28%

Age

16 to 25: 13%
26 to 30: 9%
31 to 49: 40%
50 to 64: 34%
65+: 2%

Health

38% of those surveyed reported having a chronic health condition. This is more than 2x higher than the overall Canadian population

Length of homelessness

Less than 1 year: 215 people
1 to 2 years: 53
2 to 3 years: 78
3 to 4 year: 40
4 to 5 years: 14
More than 5 years: 76

Aboriginal ancestory

28% Reported having aboriginal ancestory

Barriers to Housing

77% People do not have enough money to meet housing needs

Severity of Issues

138 People surveyed reported having sever issues and conditions that impact their housing stability

Date modified

March 20, 2025