Homelessness in Ottawa has reached a record high. What can be done about it?

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Racialized, immigrant homeless populations increasing

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The report also found that racialized and immigrant populations in Ottawa were increasingly at risk for homelessness.

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Racialized people represented more than 56 per cent of the PiT Count in 2024, an increase from 48.1 per cent in 2018.

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This was high compared with their non-racialized peers, who represented 29.5 per cent of the PiT Count in 2024, a decrease from 47.6 per cent in 2018.

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Around 42 per cent of the total homeless population also identified as an immigrant, refugee or a refugee claimant, due to a “substantial influx” of newcomers, asylum seekers and refugee claimants in 2023, the city said.

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“While newcomers face many of the same affordability pressures as other low-income renters, they also navigate other systemic barriers that increase the rate at which they enter homelessness and limit pathways to exiting homelessness,” the report said.

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“Processing times for refugee claims have lengthened in recent years — rising from an average of 22 months in early 2023 to 44 months by late 2024 — leaving many claimants in legal and financial uncertainty for long periods of time.”

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Housing affordability continues to fuel crisis

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When it came to causes of the issue, the report pointed to skyrocketing housing costs in Ottawa.

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The report found that the city’s average monthly rent increased at a similar rate from $1,045 to $1,691 per month in 2024.

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Ottawa also saw a decline in rent prices across all bedroom types between 2024 and 2025, similar to trends in Vancouver and Toronto.

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“Together, these rental trends indicate a market shift in Ottawa, where affordability challenges persist despite declining prices. While rents have decreased, the overall market remains constrained, affecting accessibility across different income levels,” the report said.

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Ottawa households have also been spending more of their paycheques towards rent. The proportion of Ottawa households paying $2,000 or more per month on rent more than tripled from 2006 to 2021 (8.1 per cent in 2006 to 28 per cent in 2021).

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“This suggests that many households may be paying more because they have no other viable options, rather than because they are opting for higher-cost housing,” the report added.

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More units at all price points needed, says City of Ottawa

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The report said Ottawa needs an additional 128,938 units by 2035 to ensure that the housing supply is sufficient to meet growth, address existing shortages and maintain market stability.

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This will mean building at least 9,210 per year to meet the minimum housing target. The city averaged just 8,073 new units between 2021 and 2024.

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The city also said 28 per cent those new units should be geared towards low-income earners ($822 to $2,056 monthly) while 24 per cent and 18 per cent should be geared for those making a median income ($3,290 to $4,935 monthly) and moderate income ($2,056 to $3,290 per month), respectively.