According to Toronto Public Health, 187 deaths were documented among the city’s residents experiencing homelessness in 2022.
The number is lower than the 223 reported deaths in 2021. However, it is higher than pre-pandemic figures; 128 people died in 2019.
Officials say in 2022, the median age of death was 55 for men and 42 for woman.
Of the 187 deaths, 110 were people living in shelters.
“Drug toxicity is the leading cause of death for people experiencing homelessness in Toronto in 2022, resulting in approximately half – or 47 per cent – of reported deaths in this population,” noted officials. “This is slightly lower than the 52 per cent reported in 2020 and the 59 per cent reported in 2021. The cause of death is unknown or pending in 29 per cent of cases, therefore deaths due to drug toxicity may rise when pending coroner reports are received.”
Other causes included cardiovascular disease at 10 per cent, cancer at five per cent, unintentional injuries at four per cent and suicide at three per cent.
The report takes in information from Toronto’s Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) division, the Toronto Homeless Memorial Network and other participating agencies.
For more information, click here.
For information on shelter occupancy rates in Toronto, click here.
