A 24-hour Point-in-Time (PiT) Count of homelessness in Edmonton, Alberta (October 10–11, 2024), using three methods—street enumeration/survey (n=860 survey respondents), observed count, and administrative count—to characterize the scope, demographics, and health burden of people experiencing homelessness.
3,902 people were identified as experiencing homelessness—the highest count in Edmonton's history, up 55% from 2022 (2,519) and 27% above the previous record (2008, 3,079). 75–80% met criteria for chronic homelessness; 50.3% identified as Indigenous despite comprising only 6.2% of Edmonton's population. Among survey respondents, 63.9% visited an emergency room at least once in the prior year (average 5 visits/person; ~2,657 total visits), and 49.4% were hospitalized (average 16-day stay; ~6,400 total hospital days).
- PiT counts capture a single 24-hour snapshot and systematically undercount hidden homelessness (couch-surfing, overcrowding), which disproportionately affects women, gender-diverse individuals, and racialized groups. - Survey data rely on voluntary, self-reported responses, creating potential non-response and recall bias. - Administrative data provide only aggregate figures for gender, age, and racial identity, limiting deeper intersectional analysis.
Clinicians should anticipate high ED utilization and complex, co-occurring needs (80.6% substance use, 69% mental health challenges, ~47% physical mobility issues) among patients experiencing homelessness—routine screening for housing status and warm handoffs to housing supports are warranted. The extreme overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples (50% of those enumerated vs. 6.2% of the general population) calls for culturally safe, Indigenous-led care pathways in emergency and acute settings.
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