HOMELESSNESS IS ON THE RISE IN OUTAOUAIS

HOMELESSNESS IS ON THE RISE IN OUTAOUAIS

Homelessness continues to grow in the Outaouais, and is no longer limited to shelters and shelter resources.

According to the Portrait de l’itinérance en Outaouais 2025-2026, 96 camps were identified in Gatineau last July. Of these, 43 were at the Guertin Arena site and 53 were outside the site. A total of 103 people were living in camps.

However, the picture indicates that the available data do not yet allow for an accurate measurement of changes in the situation compared to previous years.

The housing crisis remains at the heart of the problem. Rising rents and cost of living are putting significant pressure on low-income households. By July 2026, the Consumer Price Index in Quebec had increased 3.3% year-on-year. Housing and food prices were up 2.9%, while gasoline was up 21.4%.

Youth homelessness is also a concern for organizations in the region. The number of youth experiencing visible homelessness increased from 414 to 431 between 2024-25 and 2025-26, an increase of 4%. There were also 1,073 requests for youth services.

The picture also highlights a significant lack of truly affordable housing. For the organizations, the problem is not simply one of providing shelter or support: they must also be able to offer a real way out to stable housing.

Finally, the document points out that some homelessness remains invisible. Some people sleep temporarily with relatives, in their cars or in precarious housing, which means that the statistics do not necessarily represent the full extent of the situation.

The organizations’ findings are clear: behind the numbers are individuals, families and youth who are looking for a safe place to live and an opportunity to regain some stability.