A recent report by Maytree, a human rights organization, reveals a concerning 72% increase in the number of individuals on Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) facing homelessness since 2019. The organization, dedicated to combating poverty and enhancing community engagement, highlights that over 30,000 program beneficiaries lack stable housing, based on government data spanning from July 2019 to July 2025.
Maytree’s Director of Systems Change, Alexi White, emphasized that while OW and ODSP initially offered sufficient funding for affordable accommodations in the 1990s, the landscape has drastically shifted over time due to neglect in addressing the challenges of living on limited incomes from a policy standpoint.
The report underscores the escalating homelessness rates among long-term OW recipients, which surged by 136% within the six-year period under review. Lena Balata, the senior policy advisor at Maytree, expressed concern that instead of alleviating poverty, reliance on OW increasingly leads to homelessness.
The report further outlines that 70% of homeless program recipients are single adults, receiving the lowest benefits from the province. In response, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services highlighted the government’s efforts to enhance affordability for families, increase employment opportunities, and safeguard the economy, mentioning a 20% ODSP rate hike since 2022 and other supportive measures.
Despite these actions, Maytree emphasizes the persistent challenges faced by OW and ODSP recipients in affording housing, especially in urban centers like Toronto. The disparity between benefit rates and soaring rental costs, such as the average rent for a bachelor apartment in Toronto standing at $1,499 per month, underscores the growing unaffordability of housing for individuals with low incomes.
Maytree urges the provincial government to address the root causes of poverty, ensure adequate income support for housing affordability, and expand accessible housing options, particularly for marginalized communities.