Case study
Portrait and Impact Analysis of Homelessness Prevention and Response Programs on Quebec Municipalities
The mandate
Client need
Faced with the complex and multifaceted reality of homelessness, the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) set out to gain a deeper, 360-degree understanding of both persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) and the many stakeholders involved—governments, the health network, community organisations, and beyond. Their goal: to map out each actor’s role, evaluate current programs, and paint a clear picture of the social and economic costs tied to homelessness.
Our work
Our strategic approach
We supported the project across 4 key phases
Understanding the Landscape
Analyse sociopolitique des diverses formes d’itinérance, des déterminants de cette situation, du portrait actuel via les plus récents dénombrements de même que des meilleures pratiques de réduction du phénomène à l’international.
Consultations
We held consultations with cities, not-for-profit organisations, and leading academic experts to gather first-hand insights and deepen our understanding of the challenges and solutions on the ground.
Following the Money
We reviewed the literature and available data to assess the true costs of homelessness—covering housing, healthcare, justice, and social services—and evaluated the effectiveness of existing programs.
Projecting the Future
We used a multi-state lifetable model to estimate the number of people experiencing homelessness and the broader societal costs. We also tested promising scenarios—such as Finland’s “Housing First” strategy and expanded rent support—to evaluate their potential impact in Quebec.
Results
The results
Recommendations and Impact
Our study delivered a clear call to action: boost housing support and prevention funding from both provincial and federal levels, foster stronger collaboration among key stakeholders, and invest in better data and tracking tools to monitor progress. These recommendations were unveiled at the 2023 UMQ Homelessness Summit, where they sparked real momentum—culminating in new support measures announced shortly after by the Minister responsible for Social Services. It’s a powerful example of research driving policy change.
The Cost of Inaction
Tout dépendamment de sa situation d’hébergement, les coûts d’une A single person experiencing homelessness costs society between $65,000 and $72,500 per year depending on their housing situation. With growing numbers of PEH, this adds up to more than $500 million annually—and the figure is only rising.
The Housing First Scenario
By scaling up Housing First programs, we can make a real impact. In just five years, the number of people experiencing homelessness drops by 13% compared to the status quo, while cumulative costs fall by 5%—proving that compassionate policy can also be cost-effective.
Investing in Prevention
A bold prevention-first approach delivers a dramatic 24% reduction in homelessness. However, it comes with a steep upfront investment—driving an 86% increase in total program costs. It’s a choice between short-term spending and long-term societal savings.
