University of Sherbrooke researchers, working with the Quebec coroner's office, released a study covering the period from 2020 to 2024 that documents a dramatic increase in mortality among homeless women. The analysis shows a 200% rise in the number of deaths recorded for this group compared with earlier years, indicating a steep upward trend in a short span of time.
The study also reveals that more than one‑third of all deaths among people experiencing homelessness occurred while the individuals were in a state of hidden homelessness. Hidden homelessness refers to situations where people lack stable housing but are not counted in conventional street‑homeless counts, such as those staying in temporary shelters, couch‑surfing, or residing in unsafe, informal accommodations.
Data for the research were drawn from coroner reports across the province, providing a comprehensive view of mortality outcomes for the homeless population. By linking these records with housing status information, the investigators were able to separate deaths that happened among those visibly homeless from those occurring among people whose housing insecurity was less visible.
The findings place the rise in homeless women’s deaths within a broader pattern of growing health risks for people without stable housing in Quebec. While the study does not assign cause, the surge aligns with concerns raised by health and social service agencies about limited access to medical care, exposure to harsh weather, and heightened vulnerability to substance‑related complications.
Researchers emphasize that the proportion of deaths occurring in hidden homelessness underscores the difficulty of tracking the full scope of the crisis. The results suggest that many fatalities may be missed by traditional counts that focus only on people sleeping on the streets or in shelters. The authors call for expanded data collection and targeted interventions to address the underlying factors driving the mortality spike.
The report adds to a growing body of evidence that the mortality crisis among Quebec’s homeless population is intensifying, demanding a reassessment of public health and housing strategies to protect the most vulnerable residents.