For the first time, the federal Census will ask Canadians if they’ve had to sleep in a car, shelter, or on the street, as part of a push to better understand the scope of homelessness in Canada.Statistics Canada confirmed new questions will be included in the 2026 Census, following years of criticism that the current system undercounts people experiencing homelessness. The goal is to capture data on Canadians facing serious housing challenges, even if they are not living in shelters.Among the additions are two new questions: one asking whether the respondent stayed in a shelter, on the street, in a park, in a vehicle, or in an abandoned building in the past year; another asking if they temporarily lived with friends or family due to having nowhere else to stay..The next census is scheduled for May 2026. “Data from the 2026 Census will provide a comprehensive socioeconomic portrait of Canada’s population,” said an explanatory note.Statistics Canada has long acknowledged shortcomings in its ability to track homelessness. A 2023 review stated the Census could only capture real-time shelter occupancy, not those living outside or temporarily housed. Past counts reported 22,190 people in shelters in 2016 and 9,275 in 2021. Broader estimates, including people living in tent encampments, suggest the real number is closer to 25,000..Other data sources report even higher figures. A 2023 federal snapshot estimated more than 32,000 shelter users were experiencing chronic homelessness. A 2018 Canada Revenue Agency study suggested 35,000 people were chronically homeless, while another 50,000 were “couch surfing” with friends or family.The Parliamentary Budget Office reported in 2024 that homelessness had increased 20% since 2018. While federal spending helped reduce the point-in-time homeless count by about 6,000, the report said a 50% reduction in chronic homelessness would require an additional $3.5 billion per year.
