Just over three-in-four support increasing temporary housing options and incentivizing developers to build affordable units.
Vancouver, BC [July 31, 2025] – Canadians have become less optimistic about an eventual solution to homelessness in the country, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample, 55% of Canadians think that, with the proper funding and policies, homelessness can “definitely” or “probably” be eradicated in Canada, down six points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in February 2024.
Two-in-five Canadians (40%, +5) think homelessness will “definitely” or “probably” always be a problem in Canada, even with the proper funding and policies.
“Seven-in-ten Canadians aged 18-to-34 (70%) are hopeful about a solution to homelessness,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportions are lower among those aged 35-to-54 (56%) and those aged 55 and over (41%).”
The survey outlines significant drops in the perceived urgency of the current state of affairs. More than half of Canadians (55%, -11) describe the situation related to homelessness in the country as a “major problem”.
Compared to last year, fewer Canadians think homelessness is a “major problem” in their province (48%, -13), their municipality (34%, -8) and their neighbourhood (21%, -5).
More than half of Canadians say homelessness has increased in the country (59%, -12) and their province (55%, -12) over the past three years. The proportions are lower for perceived increases in homelessness in their municipality (39%, -12) and their neighbourhood (28%, -9).
For the first time, a majority of Canadians (51%, +5) agree with municipal governments immediately dismantling any encampment or “tent city” located within their municipality.
Public support for other ideas is decidedly higher. At least three-in-five Canadians agree with changing zoning laws to allow property owners to build more units on standard lots (62%, -3) and with devoting tax money to build units to house homeless residents (68%, -2).
More than three-in-four Canadians endorse three other possible solutions: offering incentives to developers if they focus on building affordable housing units (76%, +1), increasing temporary housing options for people experiencing homelessness (also 76%, -3) and increasing mental health support for residents who require assistance (78%, -3).
More than half of Canadians (53%, -3) believe the federal government has done a “bad” or “very bad” job coming up with solutions to deal with homelessness, while 32% (+1) rate its performance on this file as “very good” or “good”.
More than a third of Canadians (36%, +1) think their provincial government is managing homelessness well. Among the four most populous provinces, the rating is highest in Ontario (39%, +10), followed by Quebec (35%, -4), Alberta (also 35%, +1) and British Columbia (29%, -4).
There is no nationwide change on the perception of municipal governments, with 39% of Canadians (=) saying they have done a “very good” or “good” job to come up with solutions to deal with homelessness.
More than two in five Canadians think two factors are to blame “a great deal” for the current situation regarding homelessness in Canada: lack of affordable housing (45%, -5) and addiction and mental health issues (44%, -2).
Fewer residents place “a great deal” of the blame on poverty and inequality (35%, -5), a bad economy and unemployment (30%, -3), personal actions and decisions (25%, -1) and family and emotional trauma (20%, -4).
Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from June 30 to July 2, 2025, among 1,001 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty..
Find our data tables here and download the press release here.
For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca