Canadian Housing Survey shows women are more likely than men to be in core housing need.

• Overall, women were more likely to be in core housing need than men.
• Women experienced higher rates of core housing need in almost all age groups. However, the disparity was greatest between senior women and senior men over the age of 75.
• Racialized women had higher rates of core housing need than non-racialized women.
• Women-led, one-parent households had higher rates of core housing need than men-led, one-parent households.
• Women living alone not in a census family were more likely to be in core housing need than couples with and without children.

Core housing need highlights the challenges many Canadians face in finding safe, suitable and affordable housing. Core housing need occurs when a household falls short of one or more housing standards — adequacy, suitability or affordability — and would need to spend 30% or more of its before-tax income to access housing that meets all 3 standards. Core housing need rates are often provided at the household level as the impact is felt by all individuals living in the household.

According to the Canadian Housing Survey, approximately 1.7 million households (11.2%) were assessed to be in core housing need in 2022. This translates to approximately 3.3 million individuals (9.1%).

https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/blog/2025/core-housing-need-gender