Researchers at the Université de Sherbrooke have released a study documenting a sharp increase in deaths among unhoused individuals in Quebec. The analysis covers the period from 2020 through 2024 and finds that mortality in this population rose by 180 percent compared with earlier years.
The research represents the first effort to compile yearly death figures for people without stable housing across the province. By assembling data from a range of municipal and health sources, the team produced a province‑wide overview that had not previously existed. The resulting statistics show a steep upward trajectory, with the number of recorded deaths more than doubling over the five‑year span.
According to the study, the surge in deaths coincides with broader social and economic pressures that have affected vulnerable groups in Quebec. While the report does not attribute the increase to any single cause, it notes that the period examined includes the COVID‑19 pandemic and its aftermath, as well as ongoing housing shortages. The authors emphasize that the lack of systematic tracking of unhoused mortality has made it difficult to assess the full scope of the problem until now.
The findings are expected to inform policymakers, service providers, and public health officials as they consider interventions aimed at reducing mortality among people experiencing homelessness. By establishing a baseline of yearly deaths, the study provides a reference point for future monitoring and for evaluating the impact of any new measures.
The Université de Sherbrooke team plans to update the data as more recent information becomes available, with the goal of maintaining a continuous record of unhoused deaths in Quebec. The researchers hope that the visibility of these numbers will encourage further investigation and targeted action to address the underlying factors contributing to the observed rise.