This study provides information on the number of Canadians who reported that they ever had to temporarily live with family, friends, in their car, or anywhere else because they had nowhere else to live—a situation referred to as ‘hidden’ or ‘concealed’ homelessness. It also examines the characteristics of those who had experienced hidden homelessness at some point in their life.

• In 2014, 8% of Canadians aged 15 and over reported that they, at some point in their lives, had to temporarily live with family, friends, in their car, or anywhere else because they had nowhere else to live—a situation referred to as ‘hidden’ homelessness.
• Of those who experienced hidden homelessness, about 1 in 5 (18%) experienced it for at least one year, 55% for less than one year but more than one month, and 27% for less than one month.
• Canadians with a history of childhood maltreatment were more likely to have experienced hidden homelessness. For example, among those who were victims of both physical and sexual abuse before age 15, 1 in 4 (25%) experienced an episode of hidden homelessness.
• Frequent movers and persons with a lower level of social support were more likely to have experienced hidden homelessness. For example, among those who moved at least four times in the past five years, 21% experienced hidden homelessness at some point in their life.
• Canadians with a disability were more likely to have experienced hidden homelessness. More particularly, those who reported at least three disabilities were four times more likely to have experienced hidden homelessness (26%) than those with no reported disability (6%).