
Canada Tackles Brain Injury Crisis Among Unhoused People
New research reveals that brain injuries affect more than half of Canada's 60,000 unhoused people, but experts have created a five-part solution to break the cycle. The findings show that addressing brain injuries could be the missing piece in ending homelessness for thousands.
More than half of Canada's 60,000 unhoused people live with brain injuries that happened before they lost their homes, but researchers just identified five clear solutions that could change everything.
The numbers tell a powerful story. About 22.5% of unhoused Canadians live with moderate or severe brain injuries, nearly ten times higher than the general population. These injuries often trigger mental health challenges, memory problems, and difficulty managing daily tasks like remembering appointments or filling out forms.
Researchers at the University of Victoria's CORTEX Lab discovered something crucial. Brain injuries create a devastating cycle where cognitive challenges make it nearly impossible to hold jobs, maintain relationships, or navigate complex housing applications. Without support, people slip into homelessness and face even greater risk of additional injuries.
The research team worked directly with community partners to identify what's breaking down. Long waitlists, disconnected health care and housing systems, and income assistance that can't cover today's rental costs all stack against people trying to recover. Stigma makes many reluctant to seek help when they need it most.
But here's where hope enters the picture. The researchers didn't just identify problems. They created a roadmap based on real community insights, listing solutions in order of priority.

The Ripple Effect
The top solution is straightforward: provide affordable, accessible housing with specialized support. A housing-first approach gives people the stable foundation they need to heal and rebuild their lives. When someone has a safe place to call home, everything else becomes possible.
Specialized training for health care workers, police, and outreach teams who regularly interact with unhoused people ranked second. Better education means better care and more people connected to life-changing services. Expanding brain injury screening directly into homeless communities could catch problems early and link people to help faster.
The third recommendation focuses on overlooked basics. Something as simple as offering secure storage for belongings helps unhoused patients attend medical appointments without fear of losing everything they own.
Improving communication between hospitals and housing services could prevent the heartbreaking scenario of brain injury patients being discharged directly to the streets. A team approach bringing together specialists who understand both brain injury and housing needs creates pathways out of homelessness instead of dead ends.
These solutions address root causes instead of symptoms. When brain injuries get proper diagnosis and support, people can manage cognitive challenges, maintain employment, and stay housed. Breaking this cycle could transform outcomes for thousands of Canadians currently sleeping on streets.
The research proves that homelessness isn't inevitable for people with brain injuries when the right support systems exist.
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Based on reporting by Medical Xpress
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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