
Upcoming Census Asks Canadians for First Time If They Have Been Homeless
Asking about homelessness and sexual orientation. Bet they will be correlated.The next federal census will ask Canadians for the first time if they have experienced homelessness, which Statistics Canada says will “shed light on people who may face significant social and housing challenges.”
Statistics Canada will conduct the next Census of Population in May 2026, and has released its questionnaire ahead of time. The new questions contained in the census will “provide important data to measure Canada’s diversity and support communities across the country,” according to the agency, which was first covered by Blacklock’s Reporter.
The new questionnaire asks if Canadians have lived in a shelter, on the streets, in a makeshift shelter, in a vehicle, or in an abandoned building over the last 12 months.
The questionnaire also questions if Canadians have had to temporarily live with friends, family, or others because “they had nowhere else to live.”
The 2026 census also includes a new question about the “general health status of members of this household,” and a new question about sexual orientation for Canadians 15 years and older. Statistics Canada said the data collected from these new questions will help “fill gaps that other statistical programs cannot address at the required level of detail.”
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