Canada’s Hidden Crisis: The Surging Tent Cities and What They Reveal

What was once a temporary solution for nature enthusiasts has morphed into a permanent feature on the Canadian landscape, reflecting the deeper struggles faced by many citizens. 

However, the rise of tent cities in Canada are not only a sign of the housing shortage but also a symptom of larger issues such as inequality and social exclusion. In this article, I’m going to explore the causes and consequences of Canada’s housing crisis and how it affects the lives of those who live in tent cities.

Let’s dive into it.

The Rise of Tent Cities in Canada

Tent cities have been growing in number and size in recent years, especially in urban areas such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Ottawa. According to a 2023 report by Policy Options, there were at least 66 tent cities across Canada, with more than 10,000 people living in them. 

The issue of tent cities in Canada not only a humanitarian concern but also a social and economic one, as it affects the quality of life, safety, and prosperity of the entire society. They also reflect the systemic failures of our society to provide adequate and affordable housing, social support, and economic opportunities for all Canadians. 

So, what are the reasons behind the rise of tent cities in Canada – a supposedly prosperous nation? 

Well, there is no single cause for the emergence and expansion of tent cities in Canada. Rather, they are the result of a complex interplay of economic, social, and political factors that create and maintain conditions of homelessness and housing insecurity. Lets look at the main factors behind this:

1). Economic Factors

Money Makes the World Go Round… But Not Everyone’s World

These economic factors make it difficult for many Canadians to afford adequate and stable housing, which leads them to seek alternative options, such as tent cities. Now, the tents start making sense.

2). Social Support Gaps

When You Need a Safety Net, But It’s a Hammock

Another factor that contributes to the rise of tent cities is the lack of adequate and accessible social support programs and services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. These include income assistance, health care, mental health and addiction treatment, education, and training. 

Many of these programs and services are underfunded or understaffed. Some of them also have eligibility criteria, application processes, or waiting lists that create barriers for people who need them the most. 

For example, in Ontario, the maximum monthly amount for a single person on social assistance (Ontario Works) is $733, which is far below the average rent for a bachelor apartment ($1,132) in the province. Moreover, many people who are homeless or living in tent cities face challenges in accessing social assistance, such as lack of identification, bank account, phone, or address. 

Similarly, many people who are homeless or living in tent cities have complex and chronic health issues, such as physical disabilities, mental illnesses, or substance use disorders, that require specialized and ongoing care. However, they often face difficulties in accessing health care services, such as lack of health care, transportation, or trust.

These social support gaps leave many people who are homeless or living in tent cities without the resources and assistance they need to improve their situation, which forces them to rely on tent cities as a survival strategy.

3). Lack of Housing Affordability

Because Who Needs a Roof Over Their Head Anyway?

Perhaps the most fundamental and structural cause of tent cities is the lack of affordable and appropriate housing in Canada. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, housing is considered affordable if it costs less than 30% of a household’s before-tax income. 

However, many Canadians spend more than that on housing, which puts them at risk of housing stress, homelessness, or tent city living. According to the 2016 Census,

• 24.1% of Canadian households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter costs
• 8.3% of Canadian households spent 50% or more of their income on shelter costs
• 1.7 million Canadian households were in core housing need, meaning they lived in housing that was inadequate, unsuitable, or unaffordable

These numbers are likely to have increased since then, as the housing market has become more expensive and competitive, especially in major cities. The lack of housing affordability is driven by several factors, such as low-interest rates, limited supply, high demand, speculation, foreign investment, and income inequality. 

These factors create a gap between the availability and affordability of housing and the needs and preferences of people who are looking for housing. This gap forces many people to compromise on the quality, location, or size of their housing or to resort to alternative forms of housing, such as tent cities.

4). Keeping Up with Immigration

Welcome to Canada, Now Find a Tent

Another factor that contributes to tent cities in Canada is the rate and scale of immigration. Canada is a country of immigrants who contribute to its economic, social, and cultural diversity and vitality. However, there’s not enough houses to support all of them.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canada welcomed 421,000 in 2023. These numbers are the highest in Canada’s history and reflect the government’s commitment to immigration as a key driver of population growth, economic recovery, and innovation.

However, immigration also poses challenges for the housing sector, as it increases the demand for housing, especially in urban areas where most immigrants settle. The ability of the housing sector to keep up with the immigration influx depends on several factors, such as the availability of land, the capacity of builders, the regulations and policies of different levels of government, and the preferences and needs of immigrants. 

These factors affect the supply, affordability, and suitability of housing for immigrants, who may face additional barriers, such as language, culture, discrimination, or credit history. If the housing sector fails to meet the demand of immigrants, it may result in increased competition, overcrowding, homelessness, or tent city living for both immigrants and non-immigrants.

Consequences of Tent Cities

Tent cities are not only a symptom of a larger housing crisis but also a source of various problems and challenges for the people who live in them and the society at large. Some of the consequences of tent cities are:

A). Impact on Individuals

Living in a tent city is a harsh and precarious experience that affects the physical, mental, and social well-being of the residents. Some of the impacts are:

• Exposure to extreme weather, such as heat, cold, rain, snow, or wind, which can cause hypothermia, dehydration, frostbite, or heatstroke
• Lack of access to basic amenities, such as water, sanitation, electricity, or heating, which can lead to poor hygiene, infections, diseases, or fires

• Vulnerability to violence, theft, harassment, or eviction, which can cause fear, stress, trauma, or injury
• Isolation from mainstream society, which can result in stigma, discrimination, or marginalization
• Loss of dignity, identity, or hope, which can affect self-esteem, motivation, or aspirations

These impacts can exacerbate the existing challenges and difficulties that many tent city residents face, such as poverty, unemployment, addiction, mental illness, or disability. They can also create new or additional barriers to accessing or benefiting from the available resources and opportunities that could help them improve their situation, such as social assistance, health care, education, or employment.

B). Societal Impact

Tent cities also have implications for the broader society, as they affect the environment, economy, and public order of the communities where they are located. Some of the impacts are:

• Environmental degradation, such as littering, pollution, or contamination, which can harm the natural resources, wildlife, or public health
• Economic costs, such as loss of property value, tourism, or business, which can affect the income, revenue, or growth of the local area
• Public disorder, such as noise, nuisance, or crime, which can disturb the peace, safety, or quality of life of the neighbouring residents or businesses

These impacts can create tension, conflict, or resentment between the tent city residents and the surrounding community, which can undermine the social cohesion, trust, or cooperation that are essential for a healthy and harmonious society. They can also erode the public confidence, support, or goodwill for the government and the nonprofit sector, which are responsible for addressing the housing crisis and its consequences.

Current Initiatives and Interventions

What’s Being Done to Turn It Around?

In response to the growing and urgent issue of tent cities, various actors and stakeholders have been implementing or proposing different initiatives and interventions to address the needs and challenges of the tent city residents and the affected communities. Some of the current initiatives and interventions are:

• Government Programs: Federally, the 2016 National Housing Strategy aims to reduce street homelessness by 50% by 2028 through $55 billion in funding. However, with tent cities continuing to balloon across the nation like an overinflated soufflé, these lofty goals seem about as realistic as a unicorn sighting. 
• Nonprofit Organizations: Groups like The Salvation Army and InnerCity Home work tirelessly to provide temporary and transitional shelter. But with waitlists that would put Canada’s healthcare system to shame, their capacity is but a drop in the overflowing bucket of human misery.
• Grassroots Movements: Citizen groups have admirably taken on roles like food distribution, donating supplies or volunteering at shelters. But while their efforts show Canadians do care about their fellow man, even the most well-intentioned volunteers cannot single-handedly fix systemic problems or house the homeless through acts of charity alone.

So, in summary, while all sectors are making efforts, the surging tent cities reveal we remain woefully unequipped to face the scale of Canada’s hidden housing emergency. Comprehensive solutions are urgently needed to remedy this crisis beneath the surface.

Turning the Crisis Around

Canada’s tent city crisis demands comprehensive solutions addressing root causes and urgent needs. Current piecemeal initiatives are insufficient. A holistic, evidence-based approach with collaboration is required.

1). Long-term solutions: Long-term solutions must prevent future tent cities by tackling structural drivers. 

• Expanding affordable housing supply and diversity can stabilize those at risk of homelessness if combined with rent controls and a right to housing. 
• Comprehensive social programs are also key – strengthening income, healthcare, education and training supports empowers people to meet basic needs independently. 
• Reduce poverty and homelessness through affordable housing, living wages, and strengthened social safety nets.

2). Short-term solutions: In the short term, emergency measures are critical. 

• Existing shelter capacity should increase during harsh weather to protect lives. Alternative accommodation like modular units offers flexibility. 
• Ensuring dignified conditions with amenities, safety and transportation access makes shelters a safer option.

Most importantly, collaboration is essential. Regular communication and joint planning between governments, nonprofits and communities produce holistic solutions far beyond any individual effort. Integrating frontline expertise from those with lived experience empowers people in

crisis. Platforms for respectful two-way engagement foster cooperative solutions tailored to local circumstances.

Breaking the cycle of tent cities requires a synchronized, multi-sectoral strategy that tackles interconnected root causes and provides support centered around the needs of the people. All Canadians deserve accessible housing and support systems providing dignity and opportunity. It is time we met this crisis with comprehensive compassion.

Wrapping Up

Tent cities are a hidden crisis that exposes the failures of our society and the struggles of our fellow citizens. They show the lack of affordable and adequate housing for all Canadians, which we need to address with both long-term and short-term solutions. 

We need to increase the supply and availability of affordable housing, provide social support programs and services, address income inequality, provide emergency shelter programs and services, provide support for mental health and addiction issues, and foster collaboration between the government, the nonprofit sector, and the communities. These solutions are possible, necessary, and urgent if we want to end the tent city crisis and ensure a high quality of life for all Canadians.