Housing and Homelessness

Homelessness

People may experience three different types of homelessness:

• Chronic homelessness - those who are homeless for 6 months or more;
• Episodic homelessness - those who were homeless three or more times in the past year;^[12]
• Transitional homelessness - those who are homeless for a short time, usually for less than a month.^[5]

Measures

Why is Homelessness Important?

The majority of people who experience homelessness experience it as a one-time event. The likelihood of experiencing the negative impacts of homelessness increases the longer a person is homeless.^[5] Homelessness contributes to a higher risk of social problems and involvement in criminal activity. It is also connected to poor physical and mental health, and increases in hospital, shelter and prison stays.^[6,4] People who are homeless have a higher risk of dying than the general population.^[7] Homelessness is also connected to stress, poor hygiene, lack of sleep, injuries, chronic conditions caused by malnutrition and to a higher likelihood of experiencing violence or trauma.^[6]

Limitations and Data Notes

It is impossible to have an exact number of people who are homeless because some people who are homeless may not be known to service providers and/or may be part of the hidden homeless, people who "live temporarily with others but without guarantee of continued residency or immediate prospects for accessing permanent housing".^[1] The 2018 Guelph-Wellington Point in Time Count gives a "snapshot" of the number of people experiencing homelessness at one point in the year. The count may not capture changes in the population's demographics or size that result from seasonal or other influences.^[8]

Looking for more information?

Please download the excel file below for more information about this measure and data from the 2016 Point-in-Time Count.

 Download Full Dataset

Housing Need

Measure: Core Housing Need

People are in core housing need when their home is not adequate, suitable, or affordable and they must spend 30% or more of their before-tax income to cover the cost their housing. A home is adequate when no major repairs are needed; it is affordable when it costs less than 30 per cent of a household's income before tax; and it is suitable when it has enough bedrooms for the people who live there. People who spend 30% or more of their income on housing but have enough income to find other housing that is suitable and adequate are not in core housing need.^[11] 

Key Findings

In 2011, there were fewer households in Wellington County and Guelph Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) living in core housing need when compared to Ontario and Canada. Households in Wellington County were least likely to be in core housing need. Indigenous households in Wellington County were most likely (19%) to live in core housing need, when compared to senior households and households overall. For all geographies, seniors were more likely to live in core housing need when compared to the population, as a whole. Seniors in Wellington County were least likely to live in core housing need when compared to Guelph CMA, Ontario and Canada. 

*An indigenous household is where at least 50% of residents or one spouse in a couple or a sole parent identify(ies) as indigenous.

Key Findings

In the Guelph CMA, Ontario and across Canada, the proportion of recent immigrant households living in core housing need was higher when compared to all other household types. However, the percent of recent immigrants in the Guelph CMA in core housing need (24%) was lower than in Ontario (34%) and Canada (30%).

People with activity limitations were more likely to live in core housing need when compared to the population as a whole. In the Guelph CMA, a smaller percent of immigrants lived in core housing need (11%) when compared to Ontario (18%) and Canada (17%). 

*An immigrant household is where the person who pays the main household costs is or has been an immigrant or permanent resident. 

**Recent immigrants arrived in Canada between January 2006 and May 10, 2011 (within the 10 year period before data above was collected).

***Activity Limitations include mental or physical health challenges that make it difficult for people to "carry out daily activities", such as comnunicating or walking.^[14]

Note: Data about core housing need for households with immigrant, recent immigrant and activity limitation status was not available for Wellington County.

Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (Census-based housing indicators and data).

Why is Housing Need Important?

Housing affects physical and mental wellbeing.^[2] Everyone should have access to a home that is affordable, big enough to fit the number of people who live in the household, and in good condition.

Rental Vacancy

Measure: Vacancy Rate

Vacancy Rate is the proportion of all rental units that are not occupied and are available for rent. Once a year, vacancy rate information is gathered through telephone interviews and site visits that take place in the first two weeks of October in urban areas with a population of 10,000 people or more.^[9]

Key Findings

In October 2018, the overall vacancy rate in Centre Wellington was 1.6% and the overall vacancy rate in Guelph was 1.4%.  From 2012-2018, the average vacancy rate in October in Centre Wellington for all bedroom types ranged from 0.1% to 2.4%. The rate was at its lowest (0.1%) in 2015. Over the same period, the vacancy rate for Guelph for all bedroom types ranged from 0.9%-1.7%. Overall vacancy rates in both communities have been consistently lower than the minimum 3% vacancy rate that is considered an indicator of a healthy rental market.^[10,15]

Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (Rental Market Survey). Retrieved April 2019. This information is reproduced and distributed on an “as is” basis with the permission of CMHC. 

Why is the Vacancy Rate Important?

The vacancy rate provides an indication of the amount of rental units available. When vacancy rates are low (below 3%) it can be difficult for people to find affordable housing that meets their needs. 

Limitations

The vacancy rate only includes structures that are considered part of the primary rental market (buildings with three or more rental unit that are not owned as condominiums).^[9] The secondary market, which includes all units not included in the primary rental market, is not include in the data above.  In the City of Guelph, 45% of rental units are part of the secondary market.^[13]

Looking for more information?

Please download the excel file below for:

• More information about this measure
• Average vacancy rates by apartment bedroom types

Download Full Dataset