New study shows financial impact of homelessness on our health-care system
A new study out of London, Ont. lays out the cost of the homelessness crisis on our health-care system.
Almost 30,000 Canadians were homeless when admitted to and/or discharged from a hospital, according to data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
The report finds that a hospital stay for a person without a home is typically twice as long and costs twice as much.
“That's because when someone comes to hospital experiencing homelessness, they tend to be very sick,” said the study’s co-author, Cheryl Forchuk, the assistant scientific director at Lawson Health Research Institute.
The study found, on average, a person experiencing homelessness is in hospital for 15 days compared to the national average, which is eight days. The average cost per stay was $16,800, compared to the national average of $7,800.
“Almost anything you look at with the homeless population, anything related to health, people are going to do worse if you don't have a home,” Forchuk said.
For outside agencies that are trying to find people stable housing, these finding are not surprising.
“Some individuals literally were digging holes in the ground in order to get away from the cold,” said Joe Mancini, executive director at The Working Centre in Kitchener, Ont.
Mancini points to the fact that basic amenities, like heat and running water, are vital to staying healthy.
“That's where the health issues start to creep up,” he said. “Your immune system breaks down. Things like a flu gets worse, pneumonia gets worse. And so that's why the hospital visits are so high.”
The study’s author and Mancini believe the solution is simple but requires investment.
“There's an understanding in the system, the hospital system, how much homelessness adds to the cost of the hospital system and we can reduce those by creating more housing, by creating way more supports in the community,” suggested Mancini.
CTV News reached out to Grand River Hospital, Cambridge Memorial Hospital and the Region of Waterloo but they were not available to participate in this story.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
LIVE UPDATES Multiple homes, businesses 'lost' to wildfire in Jasper National Park: Parks Canada
Officials from Parks Canada and Jasper say "multiple structures, including a number of businesses and homes, in and around the town of Jasper, have been lost" to wildfire in Jasper National Park.
'There's mom and dad's house': New video appears to show destruction of Jasper neighbourhood
Video posted to social media on Thursday morning appears to show the charred remains of a Jasper, Alta., neighbourhood.
Alberta premier says a third, perhaps half, of all Jasper buildings destroyed by fire
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says early reports indicate a third and perhaps up to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have been destroyed in a wildfire.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
Former judge with disputed Cree heritage likely has Indigenous DNA: law society
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
Tourist suffers 3rd-degree burns to feet after losing flip flops amid soaring temperatures in Death Valley
A tourist was hospitalized after suffering serious burns on his feet on Saturday when he lost his flip flops at a U.S. national park where temperatures soared past 48 Celsius.
Canada to bring home fewest Olympic medals since 2012, according to forecaster
Fewer Canadians are expected to reach the Paris podium than in the previous two Olympic Summer Games, a global data analytics company predicts.
Jennifer Aniston criticizes JD Vance for 'childless cat ladies' remarks: 'I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children'
Jennifer Aniston is criticizing JD Vance for comments he made in his past about women without children.
'Skibidi Toilet:' If you don't know what it is, you will
'Skibidi Toilet' is already an internet sensation and now its about to get even more exposure after the YouTube series is being developed for TV and film, according to a report by Variety.