The benefits outlined in the Total welfare incomes sections of this report do not necessarily apply when households are unhoused. 

Being unhoused describes the situation of a household that is “without stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means, and ability of acquiring it.” [See Canadian Observatory on Homelessness/the Homeless Hub’s “Canadian Definition of Homelessness”.] This means that being unhoused can take many forms, including sleeping on the street, staying in an overnight shelter, couch surfing, living in temporary accommodation such as a hotel or motel, or living in makeshift housing in an encampment. 

Some jurisdictions provide shelter benefits or other forms of support to households in some of these circumstances. For our purposes, we are focusing on situations in which a household is not paying for shelter. As such, we are looking at whether shelter-related benefits are provided to people who are effectively street homeless (i.e., they are sleeping in a car, an encampment, a shelter, etc.) and, if so, what kind and amount of benefits are provided.

Our choice to focus on situations where households are not paying for shelter has limitations because doing so could capture circumstances where a person is housed but receives their shelter through other means, such as a situation where a provincial or territorial government is paying for housing through a department or program other than social assistance. However, our intent is to examine the situation of people who are, as noted above, effectively street homeless.

Typically, social assistance benefits are provided based on a needs test (see Key features of social assistance) wherein only those households who incur a cost are entitled to a benefit that would allow them to pay for that cost. In other words, households who do not have shelter costs – such as rent or a mortgage and associated costs such as utilities or insurance – are not entitled to receive a shelter benefit. In short, if no rent, mortgage, or utilities costs are paid, funds to pay for rent or a mortgage or utilities are typically not provided. 

A small number of jurisdictions provide one combined benefit that is intended to assist with food, clothing, shelter, and other basic costs rather than separate basic needs and shelter benefits (see Cost of living and shelter benefits breakdown). In those instances, a modified combined benefit may be provided to households who do not have shelter costs.

It is important to note that people who are staying in emergency shelters can typically have most of their basic needs, such as food and shelter, met through funding provided directly to the emergency shelter. This funding can come from a variety of departments in the provincial or territorial government. 

Table A6 provides information about shelter benefits available to households who are eligible for social assistance but do not pay for shelter. It notes whether these households are eligible for the regular shelter benefits provided by each province and territory, as well as other shelter-related benefits that they may be eligible to receive. The table also provides explanatory notes about the regulatory framework under which shelter benefits are provided in each province and territory. The table does not include information about eligibility for benefits intended to cover other basic needs items, such as food or clothing.

Table A7, however, provides data on the amounts of all basic social assistance benefits that unattached single households may be eligible for if they are housed (i.e., paying for shelter) versus unhoused (i.e., not paying for shelter). This includes benefits for both basic needs and shelter as outlined in each jurisdiction’s Total welfare incomes sections. More information about the assumptions that inform Table A7 are in the bulleted list immediately above that table. 

Table A6: Shelter-related benefit eligibility for households not paying shelter costs in 2024

2. Note that most of these benefits are only available once the household has secured accommodation.

Table A7 shows how the basic social assistance benefits available to an unattached single considered employable household in each jurisdiction differ depending on whether or not they were paying for shelter in 2024. Note that:

• The table only shows benefits available to unattached single considered employable households and not the other example households that we consider in Welfare in Canada. Unattached singles comprise the greatest proportion of those who are unhoused in Canada, with social assistance being their primary income source. [Quayum, S., C. Love and P. Hunter. (2024). Everyone counts 2020-2022: Results from the third nationally coordinated point-in-time counts of homelessness in Canada. Infrastructure Canada.]
• Benefit amounts in the table correspond with those outlined in the Total welfare incomes sections for each jurisdiction. They represent only the basic benefits from provincial or territorial social assistance programs. The table does not include additional social assistance benefits or provincial, territorial, or federal child or tax benefits. Information about the income components from all sources are available in each jurisdiction’s Total welfare incomes section. 
• Supplemental payments available by application or discretion, such as those outlined in the table above, are also not included. Our Methodology assumes a household receives only payments that are automatically available once initial and ongoing eligibility is established. 
• All of our other assumptions apply – see the Methodology section for more information about the assumptions underlying our calculations. 
• The amounts in the table represent the highest amounts available in 2024. In other words, the amounts reflect any increases to benefits that were made partway through the year, either due to inflation indexing or to changes in policy. 
• Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar. 

Table A7: Basic social assistance benefit amounts for housed versus unhoused example unattached single considered employable households in 2024 

4. We are including British Columbia’s Support Allowance rate for an employable single here. Although “currently experiencing homelessness” is an “additional barrier” considered when contemplating eligibility for the slightly higher Support Allowance rate paid to Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers, households who qualify for this designation must first have had a continuing or frequent and persistent health condition confirmed by a health care professional. The underlying assumptions in Welfare in Canada is that the benefits we consider are provided automatically after initial and ongoing eligibility is confirmed – see the Methodology section for more information.

5. This is British Columbia’s Minimum Shelter Allowance amount for one person.

6. This is New Brunswick’s monthly Household Supplement, which was introduced in February 2024 and is intended to assist households receiving social assistance with the rising cost of food and shelter. Eligibility is determined automatically for households in both the Transitional Assistance and Extended Benefits programs; however, those experiencing homelessness are not eligible.

7. This is Newfoundland and Labrador’s Fuel Supplement amount.

8. This amount may be provided either in the form of the Basic Benefit or the Board and Lodging amount, depending on the household’s particular circumstances. For those who are living in approved shelters with meals provided, this amount may be the Comfort Allowance of $175.

9. Basic needs rates in the Northwest Territories are determined geographically. The rates in this table represent those for Yellowknife, as per the calculations in the jurisdiction’s Total welfare incomes section of this report. Households living in other communities would receive different amounts.

10. In the Northwest Territories, the benefits paid for the costs of shelter are based on the actual costs of each recipient household. The Accommodation Allowance amount is included in our calculations because we assume that our households are living in market rental housing; the amount is a maximum based on average market rents that are calculated annually by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. This is the amount included in our calculations as of October. 

11. In the Northwest Territories, the benefits paid for the costs of fuel and utilities are based on the actual costs of each recipient household. The Utilities amount, which is indicated here, represents an annual average for fuel and utilities and was provided by territorial officials.

12. This is Nova Scotia’s Standard Household Rate – Essentials benefit amount for a single person.

13. This amount reflects average monthly electrical costs in public housing for a single-person household.

14. This is PEI’s Communication Rate.

15. This is the Ajustement de la prestation de base or Monthly Adjustment amount.

16. Note that, in Saskatchewan, clients who are receiving income assistance and are unhoused can access provincially-funded enhanced emergency shelters, which provide 24/7 shelter and three daily meals.

17. This amount represents the total of the Yukon’s Food, Clothing, and Incidental allowances in amounts after the inflationary increase in November.

18. This amount represents a monthly average of the Yukon’s four seasonal Fuel and Utilities allowance amounts for 2024.