Deaths among people experiencing homelessness in Quebec increased by about 180 per cent between 2020 and 2024, according to new research from the Université de Sherbrooke.
Researchers recorded 400 deaths over the four-year period, including 127 in 2024 compared with 45 in 2020. Montreal had the highest death rate per capita, followed by the Outaouais region.
Deaths among unhoused women increased by 211 per cent, compared with 175 per cent among men. Researchers also found that women experiencing homelessness die much younger, with an average life expectancy of about 42 years, compared with 84 years for women with stable housing.
For men, the average life expectancy was about 47 years among those experiencing homelessness, compared with 80 years for those with stable housing.
Researchers say the figures are likely an underestimate because not every death is investigated by the coroner. A new online reporting form has been launched to help create a more complete record of deaths among people experiencing homelessness in Quebec.
