Towards understanding the magnitude of evictions in Canada

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This research examines the magnitude of evictions in Canada, defined as the annual national eviction rate. Using data from the 2021 and 2022 Canadian Housing Survey, researchers estimate that approximately 1.0% of renters were evicted in the past year. This marks the first use of this survey data for such an estimate. The findings have limitations due to the Canadian Housing Survey's exclusions. It doesn’t account for institutional settings like shelters or senior homes, nor individuals who moved to homeownership or institutional living after eviction. This may lead to an undercount of evictions.

The study addresses 4 key topics:

methodologies for measuring evictions
definitions of formal and informal evictions
how to estimate eviction magnitude, and
the limitations of current data

It defines the magnitude of evictions as a range, capturing both formal (tribunal-ordered) and informal (non-tribunal) evictions. The research highlights the need for improved data to better understand eviction trends and their impact on vulnerable populations.