An estimated 22.5 per cent of people experiencing homelessness in Canada live with moderate or severe brain injuries, a rate nearly ten times higher than that of the general population. The finding, detailed in recent research, highlights a significant and often overlooked health factor contributing to both homelessness and its persistence.
Researchers at the University of Victoria’s CORTEX Lab, along with collaborators from Vancouver Coastal Health and other institutions, have been investigating the impact of brain injury on individuals experiencing homelessness. Their work indicates that acquired brain injury (ABI) – damage to the brain after birth, whether traumatic or non-traumatic – is remarkably prevalent within this population.
Several pathways can lead to both brain injury and homelessness, including experiences of abuse, criminality, and other adverse life events, according to researchers. The relationship is often cyclical; a brain injury can contribute to the onset of mental health or substance utilize disorders, impulsivity, and aggression, which in turn can lead to unemployment, family breakdown, and homelessness.
Cognitive impairments resulting from brain injury, such as mental fog, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems, disrupt daily functioning and can significantly hinder an individual’s ability to maintain employment or housing. Executive functioning – encompassing decision-making and problem-solving – is often particularly affected. When these impairments remain undiagnosed and unsupported, the consequences extend to all aspects of life, impacting work, relationships, and coping mechanisms.
A study published in May 2025, led by Cole J. Kennedy of the University of Victoria, emphasized the need for community-generated recommendations for healthcare service delivery and research to address the complex interplay between brain injury, mental health, and substance use among people experiencing homelessness. The research team included Jasleen Grewal, Grace Warren, Julia Schmidt, Janelle Breese Biagioni, and Mauricio A. Garcia-Barrera.
Medical experts note that on any given night, approximately 60,000 people in Canada experience homelessness, and research suggests that more than half have sustained a brain injury at some point in their lives, with most injuries occurring before the onset of homelessness. The expansion of brain injury health care services into homeless communities, with a focus on screening and diagnostic services, is considered a key step in connecting individuals to appropriate care.
