Housing and Homelessness

Number of People Experiencing Homelessness - Point-in-Time Count

This measure presents the number of people in Guelph and Wellington County who were identified as homeless on October 20, 2021.

The Homelessness Point-in-Time Count was conducted by volunteers who identified and counted people who were homeless on October 20, 2021 in Guelph and Wellington County.^[7] Two different surveys were used to gather information: the Vulnerability Index-Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) and the Ontario Enumeration Survey. A unique identifier was also used to count individuals experiencing homelessness who did not complete the surveys and were known to be staying in emergency or domestic violence shelters on October 20, 2021, as well as those actively homeless on the Guelph-Wellington By-Name List in October. The unique identifier was used to ensure no one was counted more than once.^[7]

Key Findings

In total, 270 people were identified as homeless in Guelph and Wellington County during the 2021 Homelessness Point-in-Time Count. One hundred eighty-five (185) individuals completed the surveys: 141 adults (age 25 years and over), 20 unaccompanied youth (age 16 to 24 years), and 24 child dependents (age 18 years and younger). An additional 85 individuals were identified as homeless through administrative data; age and dependency status were not collected for these individuals.

Homelessness does not affect all individuals equally. Nearly 1 in 4 survey respondents (23%) identified as Indigenous. The majority of survey respondents (65%) also identified as male and 2% identified as non-cis gender.

Due to the limitations of a point-in-time count (see below), this should be considered the minimum number of people who are homeless in our community. 

Source: County of Wellington Housing Services. (2021). Guelph-Wellington 2021 Everyone Counts. https://www.wellington.ca/en/social-services/hs-2021-pit-count.aspx

Limitations

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 Homelessness 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]

The 2021 results are not directly comparable to the 2018 Homelessness Point-in-Time Count due to changes in methodology. The 2018 count only included individuals that completed the survey whereas the 2021 count also included individuals staying in the shelter system and on the by-name list. The COVID-19 pandemic also influenced how the 2021 count was carried out. In 2018, the count involved over 100 staff and volunteers deployed in April (over 3 days in Guelph and over a week in Wellington County). In 2021, the count involved fewer staff and volunteers deployed in October over 2 days in both Guelph and Wellington County.^[7]

Looking for more information?

Please download the excel file below for more information about this measure and data from the 2016 and 2018 Homelessness Point-in-Time Count.

 Download Full Dataset

Number of People Experiencing Homelessness - By-Name List

The By-Name List is a real-time list of all people experiencing homelessness in Guelph and Wellington County. Information gathered through the By-Name List helps understand who is coming into the homelessness system (inflow) and who is being housed and leaving the system (outflow). In addition to the number of people actively experiencing homelessness, tracking inflow and outflow in our community helps inform action (such as setting priorities and allocating resources) and measure progress toward ending chronic homelessness.^[9]

The By-Name List is managed by the County of Wellington. More information about the By-Name List, including inflow, outflow, and actively homeless, can be found in the County of Wellington Housing Services' Status and Activity Reports.

The number of people actively experiencing chronic homelessness in Guelph and Wellington County is also reported monthly through the Built for Zero Canada dashboard. Note that this dashboard does not include data about the inflow into and outflow from homelessness. 

Core Housing Need

A household is in core housing need when it meets two criteria: the household is below one or more of the adequacy, suitability, and affordability standards AND the household would have to spend 30% or more of its before-tax household income to access local housing that meets all three standards. Housing is adequate when it does not require any major repairs. Housing is suitable when it has enough bedrooms for the size and make-up of the household. Housing is affordable when housing costs are less than 30% of before-tax household income.^[12,13]

The chart below presents the percent of households living in core housing need in Guelph and Wellington County.

Key Findings

In 2021, Wellington County (not including Guelph) had the lowest proportion of households living in core housing need (5.3%) compared to Guelph (10.8%), Ontario (12.1%), and Canada (10.1%). Within Wellington County, Wellington North had the greatest proportion of households living in core housing need (8.9%); Minto and Erin had the lowest proportion (3.1% and 3.3%, respectively). Since 2016 (the previous census year) the percent of households living in core housing need has decreased in Guelph and Wellington County, and in all municipalities and townships except Mapleton where it increased slightly.

*Wellington County does not include the City of Guelph.

Source: Statistics Canada. 2022. (table). Census Profile. 2021 Census of Population. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2021001. Ottawa. Released October 26, 2022. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E (accessed November 3, 2022).

Renters were much more likely to live in core housing need when compared to home owners. In Guelph and Wellington County (not including Guelph), 5.2% and 2.9% of home owners lived in core housing need compared to 21.8% and 16.6% of renters, respectively.

*Wellington County does not include the City of Guelph.

Source: Statistics Canada. 2022. (table). Census Profile. 2021 Census of Population. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2021001. Ottawa. Released October 26, 2022. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E (accessed November 3, 2022).

Core Housing Need, by Household Type

In 2016, recent immigrants in Centre Wellington and Ontario were most likely to live in core housing need when compared to all other household types. In Guelph and Canada, female lone-parents were most likely to live in core housing need.

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

*The term "Indigenous Households" has been used to replace the term "Aboriginal households" which was the terminology used in the source data. An Indigenous Household is where at least 50% of residents or one spouse in a couple or a sole parent identify(ies) as indigenous.

**Recent immigrants arrived in Canada between January 1, 2011 and May 10, 2016 (within the 10 year period before data above was collected).

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

****Activity Limitations include mental or physical health challenges that make it difficult for people to "carry out daily activities", such as communicating or walking. A household with activity limitations refers to a "household with at least one person with activity limitations"

Sources for definitions above can be found in downloadable excel spreadsheet below. 

Rental Vacancy Rate

Note: Vacancy rates displayed below include information on rental apartment structures and rental row (townhouse) structures. To see individual vacancy rates for rental apartment structures and rental row (townhouse) structures, please see the downloadable dataset below.  

Key Findings

In October 2021, the average apartment/row vacancy rate (for all bedroom types) in Centre Wellington was 0.8% and the average apartment/row vacancy rate in the Guelph CMA was 1.9%. From 2012-2021, the average vacancy rate in October in Centre Wellington ranged from 0.0% to 2.4%. Over the same period, the average vacancy rate in the Guelph CMA ranged from 0.9% to 2.1%. Overall, average 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.^[15,16]

Note: The 2020 data for Centre Wellington should be interpreted with caution due to low reliability.

*The Guelph CMA includes the City of Guelph, Puslinch, and Guelph/Eramosa Township.

Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2022). Primary Rental Market Vacancy Rate (%). https://www03.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/hmip-pimh/en#Profile/35/2/Ontario (accessed June 15, 2022). 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 units that are not owned as condominiums).^[13] The secondary market, which includes all rental units not included in the primary rental market, is not included in the data above. A 2017 report indicates that 45% of rental units in the City of Guelph are part of the secondary market.^[17]

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