Category Archives: Statistics

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Good information can be very helpful in terms of addressing health and social problems.  The federal government provides an optional information system to be used by shelters called HIFIS (London is in the process of adopting it).  By having a … Continue reading →

The Government of Ontario has released it’s fourth report of it’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.  By committing to particular indicators, it makes it easy to track the progress (or not) on this strategy.  I took the time to compare this report … Continue reading →

A friend recently asked for some of the basics on housing and homelessness in London, here’s what I sent him: Our best estimate is that on any given night in London, 2000 are homeless.  This represents 600 in shelter and … Continue reading →

From the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in Ontario, approximately 8,500 Ontarians use a shelter on a daily basis.  Using my estimates that shelter users represent about 1/3 of people experiencing homelessness, this would mean 25,500 homeless Ontarians.  This … Continue reading →

A recent report on homelessness in Denmark demonstrates that those experiencing homelessness face many of the same challenges in other countries as they do in Canada.  I have mentioned before the people experiencing homelessness have some of the highest morbidity … Continue reading →

There is nothing like an ill child to bring perspective on life. I have been away helping care for #2 son, who I’m pleased to report is doing well now. Until things get settled again, I just wanted to share … Continue reading →

I have come across a number of new statistics on homelessness in Canada that may be of interest. There are over 19,000 shelter beds in Canada (Library of Parliament), which means my estimate of 30-50,000 persons is probably pretty close. … Continue reading →

In Canada, survey data from the late 1980’s estimated that over 100,000 Canadians were homeless (McLaughlin, 1987).  However, at the same time an estimate of 130,000 to 250,000 began to circulate based on a belief that such surveys underestimated the … Continue reading →