Report: London’s homelessness strategy works - but crisis still growing at astounding rate

The demand for these services is increasing. CTV’s Daryl Newcombe has more on the program.

An evaluation of London’s homelessness strategy indicates early success for the small network of low-barrier service hubs and supportive housing units.

But the researchers’ report also confirms that the tidal wave of homelessness impacting London continues to grow.

On Wednesday, researchers with Western University’s Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion (CRHESI) unveiled their initial findings about the effectiveness of London’s Health and Homelessness Whole of Community System Response (WoCSR).

Although initially envisioned as a network of 600 highly supportive housing units and up to 15 low-barrier service hubs, to date the rollout has only included two hubs (a Youth Hub and an Indigenous-led Hub) and 93 supportive housing units.

Since 2023, more than 100 people have been served at the youth hub and Indigenous-led hubs— over 40 of whom transitioned into stable housing.

“The types of interventions that we’ve built are working. And we’re helping inform provincial decisions around models of care,” explains Jodi Younger, co-chair of the WoCSR’s Strategy and Accountability Table.

The report also highlights a gradual decrease in deaths among London’s homeless population, from 55 people in 2022 to 44 in 2024.

“We’ve seen a 20 per cent decrease in deaths despite the increases in homelessness, that to me is a hugely important statistic,” adds Dr. Nadine Wathen who was part of the research team. “But there’s also costs that are an important consideration as well.”

The report determined, “the cost of homelessness in London was estimated at more than $100,000 per person per year.”

The calculation is based on costs related to healthcare, emergency services (police, fire, EMS), social services, shelters and contact with the justice system.

In fact, just 10 people accounted for 3,295 visits to London Health Sciences Centre emergency rooms between April 2021 and April 2025.

Participants in the Whole of Community System Response dramatically decrease those costly interactions.

However, the future of London’s two service hubs remains uncertain, having yet to secure long-term operating funds from the provincial government.

“We have moved forward with a data measurement framework that provides a really solid case for provincial investment in these services,” Mayor Josh Morgan tells CTV News.

When the current funds dedicated to the hubs runs out, Morgan doesn’t want the financial burden falling to the municipality.

“Ideally that won’t happen,” he says. “It will be a discussion that Council will have to have if we get to that point.”

The evaluation report calls for greater capacity in the system because the number of homeless Londoners continues to rise at an astounding rate.

Since 2022, the number of homeless people in London has grown by 19 per cent, although the mayor compares that figure to the provincial average of 25 per cent.

“Our (total municipal) population is expanding faster than other cities,” Morgan explains. “Our rate of homelessness is also going up, but at a pace that is less than what others are seeing across the province. So we would be in a much worse situation today if we had done nothing.”

“This problem isn’t going to go away, so stopping what we’re doing is not going to solve the problem,” Younger adds. “It’s only going to exacerbate it.”

Both service hubs are experiencing waitlists, and the report warns of, “a workforce stretched thin by distress, exhaustion, and chronic underfunding.”

“They’re critical,” says Younger. “Without them we don’t have folks who are doing some of the hardest work in supporting the (homeless Londoners) moving into safe housing.”

The evaluation report will be considered by the Community and Protective Services (CAPS) Committee September 29.