Having safe and stable housing is essential to address the root causes of homelessness. It is Lookout Housing and Health Society’s vision to transform the lives of people with few, if any, housing options. We go beyond traditional solutions regarding homelessness by fostering growth and change through innovative service delivery and collaborative partnerships. Our goal is to help people move into permanent housing that supports their needs.
Lookout guests include individuals and families living with limited income, people experiencing barriers including: poverty, addictions, disabilities, health challenges, mental health concerns, and equity seeking groups. An individual’s journey to wellness or through the housing continuum is not always linear.
Causes of Homelessness
Lack of income is often reported as the leading cause of homelessness. Substance use, mental health, landlord/tenant and family conflicts can also be significant factors. Research shows that with appropriate and adequate supports people can access and maintain housing.
Factors Leading to Homelessness by % of Respondents
The Cost of Homelessness
The cost of homelessness to Canadians is estimated at $10 billion annually, according to the 2025 report The State of Homelessness in Canada. This estimate is based on reacting rather than being proactive in addressing homelessness. Reactionary solutions are expensive and often involve greater usage of emergency services such as law enforcement, courts and prisons, emergency healthcare, longer hospital stays.
There are also longer-term costs associated with chronic homelessness. Those who spend longer periods unhoused have a higher likelihood of experiencing physical health challenges and mental health concerns amongst other barriers.
The average monthly cost of being unhoused results in the following amounts:
Hospital Bed
$21,000
Provincial Jail
$7,845
Shelter Bed
$3,450
