Point-in-Time Count shows growth in homeless and asylum claimant population

BRAMPTON, Ont. (April 24, 2025) – Today, Peel Regional Council received the 2024 Homelessness Point-in-Time (PiT) Count, a community-level measure of homelessness at a single point in time that provides both local and national insights.

In compliance with both federal and provincial requirements, Peel Region participates in a Point-in-Time Count which consists of:

Enumeration: an estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night, and identifying where they stayed (such as shelters, transitional housing, and unsheltered locations), and;

Housing Needs Survey: a survey that is completed in-person with individuals experiencing homelessness to gather key information on demographics and experiences.

Peel conducted the 2024 PiT Count on Nov. 13, 2024, and the Housing Needs Survey between Nov. 13 to 15, 2024. There were 1,035 participants that completed this survey.

Peel publishes yearly data to quantify homelessness using multiple sources to ensure consistent and accurate tracking. The Point-in-Time Count reprezents homelessness on one specific night and is only one method used to track homelessness within Peel.

Key findings from the 2024 PiT Count reveal a growth in the homeless population, including growth in our local homeless population and asylum claimants. Results indicated that:

• when including asylum claimants, there was a 223 per cent increase in overall homelessness in Peel compared to the 2021 PiT Count, with 2,799 individuals experiencing homelessness on Nov. 13, 2024, and;
• when asylum claimants are removed from this analysis, the count identified a 93 per cent increase in local homelessness compared to the 2021 PiT Count, with 1,674 individuals experiencing homelessness on Nov. 13, 2024.

Overall homelessness includes sheltered homeless (2,593 individuals) and unsheltered homeless (206 individuals). The sheltered homeless includes 1,125 individuals within the asylum response system.

This is the first PiT Count in Peel that includes the asylum claimant response system, as this system was not in place during the 2021 count. The emergence of this system in 2023 has led to significant shifts in homelessness trends, particularly in demographics, service needs and shelter utilization rates. The inclusion of asylum claimant data in the 2024 PiT Count provides a more comprehensive picture of homelessness in Peel, highlighting the distinct challenges faced by each group and the need for targeted responses.

Distinguishing the asylum claimant response system from local homelessness has allowed Peel to enhance service delivery by tailoring supports to the distinct needs of each population. Separating the asylum claimant response system ensures local homelessness services are better protected from additional strain, and residents experiencing homelessness receive the focused support they need.

Homelessness continues to be a multifaceted issue that demands systemic interventions and tailored solutions. The 2024 PiT Count data highlights critical trends and gaps in services, particularly among vulnerable populations such as racialized groups, youth, and asylum claimants. An increase in homelessness among women was also noted with 40 per cent of responses from women, a 12 per cent increase from 2021. Women were also found to have a higher percentage (27 per cent) of housing loss due to conflict or abuse with a partner/spouse or parent/guardian compared to men (16 per cent).

This data is only a snapshot of the bigger picture. The count does not include those who are couch surfing or living in unstable housing conditions, and does not capture cyclical or intermittent homelessness, meaning the actual number of people experiencing homelessness may be higher.

The Point-in-Time Count is just one data source used by Peel to track homelessness.

The findings from this count emphasize the need for continued investment in targeted supports, while also addressing the structural causes of homelessness, such as income disparity, discrimination, and systemic barriers to housing access.

Next steps include that:

• the findings will inform program enhancements to ensure housing and homelessness services align with Peel’s evolving needs, and;
• Peel will continue to advocate for sustainable funding and policy measures to support both local residents and asylum claimants facing homelessness, and;
• targeted interventions, including culturally responsive services, will be explored to address the unique needs of subpopulations, including women, families, and asylum claimants, and;
• future PiT Counts will incorporate enhanced methodologies, including improved real-time data collection strategies, to improve the accuracy of homelessness measurements.

Access the Council report and 2024 Everyone Counts Peel Community Report to learn more about Peel’s 2024 Point-in-Time Count.