A new study has shown that homeless people in Toronto die at a younger age than the general population, with the disparity worsening particularly among younger generations.

The study published by Unity Health Toronto on Friday found that homeless individuals in Toronto die, on average, 17 years younger than those who are housed.

The study warned that the gap in life expectancy between people living in housing versus those living homeless is widening, which is especially evident for younger generations.

Lucy Richard, a researcher at Unity Health Toronto, told CTV News Toronto that the disparity in age was the most disturbing finding in her research. She noted that the mortality gap was not concentrated among those facing homelessness in their older years but was more pronounced at younger ages.

She said, "Individuals aged 25 to 44 have a 16 times higher risk of death compared to their housed counterparts. It’s a very, very significant gap."

"This can be fully explained by factors like substance use and mental health, which we often think about when considering disparities and mortality. We adjusted for these factors, and after your adjustments, you still have over twice the risk of death across all age groups."

While the study noted no deaths among participants living in housing aged 16 to 25, there were several deaths in that age range among the homeless group.

She stated, "In the general population, when you are younger, the likelihood of death is much lower, and as you age, the risks increase. This is not true when people are experiencing homelessness."

"There are many exposures and risks you face when you are homeless that you wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. So that increases your risks."

Richard said that the new data indicates a significant deterioration compared to research conducted in Toronto in the 1990s, which found a similar disparity.

She added, "The numbers we are seeing are much higher." "This is not new information. Everyone knows that mortality rates are high in this group, and it has been this way for a long time."

"What I would like to see is a renewed call to action."

The study was conducted by researchers from Toronto, London, and Hamilton, tracking 640 individuals in Toronto experiencing homelessness over the span of one year.

Participants were matched based on age, gender, and general health status with two comparison groups - a general population sample and a low-income housing sample.

Over the course of a year, more than a dozen study participants died while homeless across Toronto. Compared to the comparison groups, the average age of a person who died while homeless was 17 years younger.

Richard said, "There are many interventions that people have already seen that work to improve lives when individuals are experiencing homelessness, but honestly, the best solution is to prevent homelessness in the first place."

"So improvements in rental assistance and other measures to prevent homelessness are things that really need to be discussed in more detail."

According to data from the City of Toronto, there are currently over 8,000 people experiencing homelessness in Toronto. So far in 2024, 43 people have died in the city’s shelter system.

Richard noted that the biggest limitation of the study is the lack of information on the causes of death.

She stated, "The biggest limitation of this project that I feel really sad about is that we don’t have information on the causes of death to help us determine where to direct efforts. This information is crucial."