2SLGBTQIA+ Homelessness: Key Facts

By Queer Haven 613

Please check out key information below highlighting the inequities 2SLGBTQIA+ indivduals experience while homeless:

  • 119,000 People identified as LGBTQ+ and were experiencing homelessness in 20231
  • 77.9% of LGBTQ+ persons experiencing homelessness have experienced criminal victimization2
  • There has been a 69% increase in violence towards LGBTQ+ people in 20233
  • Research found that most LGBTQ+ persons stated they felt unsafe accessing emergency shelters in Ottawa45
  • There are not any services that address adult LGBTQ+ homelessness in Ottawa
  • There is only 1 identified emergency shelter that requires workers to complete specialized LGBTQ+ training
  • 90% of asylum seekers who are LGBTQ+ are successful, with only one organization in Ontario that has the resources to meet their needs6
  • ¾ of people in the LGBTQ+ community surveyed want Ottawa to address LGBTQ+ experiences of homelessness7

Additional Considerations: The true rates may be underreported due to:

  • Need to conceal identity for safety
  • Limited data collection on gender/sexual identity
  • Prevalence of hidden homelessness
  • Barriers to accessing shelters due to discrimination

  1. The Homeless Hub. (2024). Community profile: Ottawa. https://homelesshub.ca/community_profile/ottawa/ ↩︎

  2. Lalonde, D., Abramovich, A., Baker, L., & Tabibi, J. (2018). 2SLGBTQ+ youth, violence, and homelessness. Learning Network Issue 24. Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children. https://www.gbvlearningnetwork.ca/our-work/issuebased_newsletters/issue-24/Issue_24.pd ↩︎

  3. Statistics Canada. (2023). Police-reported hate crimes, by type of motivation. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2020001/article/00009-eng.pdf ↩︎

  4. Ecker, J. (2017). LGBTQ2S adult housing needs assessment: Final report. Daybreak Non-Profit Housing. ↩︎

  5. Wisdom2Action Consulting Ltd. (2020). Ottawa 2SLGBTQ+ service needs, gaps, and recommendations. City of Ottawa Reports. ↩︎

  6. The 519. (2024). LGBTQ2S+ refugee & newcomer services. https://www.the519.org/ ↩︎

  7. City of Ottawa. (2020). Community safety and wellbeing plan: What we heard report. https://ehq-production-canada.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/fe3eb5a20defbdee148866dbb46fa710de2903ae/original/1633461933/1e85012e634b156fbaab04fe22faef77_CSWB_What_We_Heard_report_2020_%281%29.pdf ↩︎