大象传媒

Authors:

Sarah L. Canham, Isabel Diavolitsis, Tara Fernando, Dominique Garreaud Calderon

Acknowledgements:

For contributions to this project, we would like to acknowledge Lived Expert Advisors, Hilary Chapple, Chris Danielsen, and Dorothy Kestle. We also acknowledge the contributions of Dr. Lena Richardson and Joe Humphries. We would also like to thank our partner organizations for their support of this project. This report was designed by Katelyn Tra and Joe Humphries.

How to cite this document:

Canham, S.L., Diavolitsis, I., Fernando, T., & Garreaud Calderon, D. (2025). Policy Pathways for Aging in the Right Place: Strategies to Address Homelessness among Older Adults in Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal. Aging in the Right Place Partnership, Canada. /airp/research/reports/Policy-Pathways-for-Aging-in-the-Right-Place-Strategies-to-Address-Homelessness-among-Older-Adults-in-Vancouver-Calgary-and-Montreal.html

Executive Summary

In 2019, the Canadian parliament passed the National Housing Strategy Act which recognizes housing as a human right and commits the federal government to progressively realize the right to adequate housing for all Canadians. Despite this, the number of people in Canada experiencing homelessness is rising, highlighting significant gaps in housing availability and affordability. Exacerbated by restrictive planning policies, rising costs, and delays in construction, today, about 1.5 million Canadian households live in unaffordable, overcrowded, or substandard housing. Among those most affected are older adults at risk of homelessness.

In response to an aging homeless population, the Aging in the Right Place (AIRP) Partnership has been evaluating innovative solutions for older adults who are experiencing or have experienced homelessness or housing precarity since 2020. This project is located in three of the four most populated cities in Canada: Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal鈥揺ach representing unique demographic and socio-economic contexts. 

To better understand what is needed to support older people experiencing homelessness to age in the right place, a literature review and stakeholder meetings were carried out. Three themes from the existing literature were identified as impacting how older adults with experiences of homelessness can age in the right place: housing stability, supportive housing with integrated services, and inclusive design. Following, a jurisdictional scan was conducted to explore how these three themes apply to the unique urban contexts of Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal. This scan showcased significant trends, as well as gaps across these jurisdictions. The following key findings demonstrate the complexity of supporting older adults to age in secure and safe environments:

• Older adults experiencing homelessness often experience 鈥渁ccelerated aging,鈥� meaning they experience age-related health issues earlier in life than their housed counterparts. The intersection of aging and homelessness creates a complex form of marginalization, further exacerbated by factors like race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, and trauma.

• One-size-fits-all approaches overlook the unique needs of older adults experiencing homelessness. Tailored and individualized housing solutions are essential to addressing the diverse challenges that older adults experiencing homelessness face.

• Stability, security, and safety within one鈥檚 housing is a fundamental need. Without these foundational components, housing fails to effectively support one's ability to age in the right place. 

• When considering the unique needs of older adults with experiences of homelessness, a sufficient number of available and proximal services and resources are needed. Onsite and offsite medical and social programs play a crucial role in promoting the health and independence of older adults and enable meaningful social participation.

• Certain types of housing are unsuitable for older adults due to varying degrees of mobility limitations, as well as physical or mental health needs. As such, older adults require housing that is inclusively designed, ensuring that the design is adaptable and accessible for an individual鈥檚 evolving health and physical requirements.

• In Vancouver, the cost of rent has skyrocketed, increasing by over 45% between 2011 and 2021. Consequently, approximately 30% of older adult renters are experiencing housing unaffordability. Overall, affordability represents the most pressing housing challenge for older adults in Vancouver. In response, the City of Vancouver is using regulatory tools to encourage more appropriate and affordable housing options for older adults, and advocating to the Provincial and Federal governments to fund increased health and rental support.

• Calgary is facing a significant strain on its housing supply due to a surge in immigration, with 42,000 newcomers arriving in 2023 alone. As a result, 84,000 households in Calgary, 23% of whom are older adults, require affordable housing options. In light of the rising unaffordability, the City of Calgary introduced a Housing Strategy in 2023. Following the release of the strategy, market housing conditions have worsened; ultimately, the city aims to increase the supply of housing and social programs to prevent homelessness. 

• In Montreal, the second municipal action plan for older adults was released in 2018, and yet, it largely fails to identify policy goals related to older adults experiencing homelessness. This oversight is particularly concerning given that, in 2018, one-third of older adult tenants in Montreal faced financial and social instability, with many spending over 30% of their annual income on housing. As the number of households on waiting lists for low-cost housing units continues to grow, a key focus of Montreal's housing policy is to increase funding for subsidized housing programs.

Based on these key findings, policy recommendations for each of the municipal governments discussed in this paper (City of Vancouver, City of Calgary, and City of Montreal) include: