Landlords key to reducing homelessness in Ontario

Communities and housing providers are working together to address the homelessness crisis in Ontario.

According to the Association of Ontario Municipalities, the number of people who experienced homelessness across the province rose by 8% in 2025, reaching about 85,000.

In response, municipalities and individual charities are stepping up with coordinated efforts to address the crisis.

Some communities are already seeing measurable results. St. Thomas, for example, has reduced chronic homelessness by 30% through a more assertive strategy – one that includes partnerships with local landlords to help transition people from shelters into stable rental housing.

To the credit of many such programs, tenants are often not simply placed in a unit and forgotten; they typically continue to receive counselling, healthcare, and more from service providers. In many cases, participating organizations even pay rent on behalf of the tenant, meaning reliable rental income for landlords (and guaranteed commission for those who hire property managers).

There is, of course, some risk in working with higher-needs tenants. For that reason, many housing providers choose to partner with only established programs that have strong reputations and documented results.

With careful screening and professional oversight, addressing homelessness can be both a meaningful community contribution and a sound business decision.

More renter headlines

Rising food insecurity is putting pressure on rent payments – PayProp blog

Federal program helps find housing for veteran in Sudbury – CTV News

Ontario's homelessness and recovery hubs offer health care, community and hope – CBC