The recent point-in-time count in Thunder Bay, Ontario, revealed that 78% of the city’s 557 homeless population is Indigenous, highlighting a troubling trend of Indigenous overrepresentation in homelessness. The survey, overseen by the Lakehead Social Planning Council (LSPC), found that many individuals faced systemic barriers, including a lack of culturally-safe shelters. Indigenous people make up just over 14% of Thunder Bay’s population, yet they account for a disproportionate share of homelessness, a pattern seen nationally where Indigenous people represent about a third of the homeless population in Canada.
The top reasons for homelessness in Thunder Bay include substance use, relationship issues, and insufficient income. About 43% of respondents had spent time in foster care, with many reporting inadequate support when transitioning out of the system. The opioid crisis in the region also compounds the issue, with Thunder Bay having one of Ontario’s highest opioid death rates.
Local organizations, including the Ontario Native Women’s Association and Elevate NWO, are calling for more culturally tailored services, addiction support, and affordable housing initiatives. The city plans to create a temporary village for the homeless and aims to build nearly 1,700 new housing units by 2027, with funding from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. Data from the count will be used to advocate for more targeted programs and resources.
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