Canadian residential facilities for victims of abuse, 2024/2025
Released: 2026-05-06
About 61,500 admissions to residential facilities for victims of abuse in 2024/2025
Residential facilities for victims of abuse reported 61,465 admissions over a 12-month period from 2024 to 2025 (Table 1). Women accounted for the majority of admissions (57%), followed by accompanying children (42%). Among these children, a slightly larger proportion were girls (53%) than boys (46%). In addition, there were 209 men and 81 adults of another gender admitted to facilities during this time.
Admissions to residential facilities are relatively stable compared with the previous cycle
The number of admissions to residential facilities was relatively stable from 2022/2023 to 2024/2025 (+1%) (Chart 1). More specifically, the number of women admitted decreased (-5%), while the number of accompanying children increased (+9%).
Chart 1
Admissions to residential facilities for victims of abuse, by type of facility, Canada, 2017/2018 to 2024/2025
Admissions in 2024/2025 were higher (+31%) than in 2020/2021, which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic period, there was a notable decrease in the number of admissions, likely a reflection of safety protocols that reduced the maximum capacity of facilities rather than a decrease in the demand for services or a decline in abuse overall.
Admissions in 2024/2025 were 10% lower than in 2017/2018.
Almost four in five residential facilities offer short-term shelter for victims of abuse
Residential facilities for victims of abuse generally operate as either short- or long-term housing depending on the length of accommodations provided. In 2024/2025, almost four in five (78%) shelters were short-term facilities, providing accommodations for up to three months, generally as individual beds in domestic violence shelters or transition homes (Table 2). The remaining shelters were long-term facilities (22%), providing housing for more than three months, generally as apartment-style units in second- and third-stage homes.
Overall, 377 residential facilities operated in urban areas (67%), and of these, three-quarters (75%) were short-term facilities. In total, one-third (33%) of residential facilities operated in rural areas, and of these, an even higher proportion were short-term facilities (85%).
Most residential facilities are mandated to serve those experiencing various types of abuse
A general mandate or policy typically guides residential facility operations and defines which population groups receive service. In 2024/2025, the vast majority of facilities indicated that they were mandated to serve those experiencing various types of abuse, including spousal (99%), familial (71%) and elder (57%) abuse.
Overall, 7 in 10 (70%) residential facilities indicated that they were mandated to serve women and their accompanying children only.
Majority of residential facilities offer various services and programs for residents
Along with providing safe accommodations, most residential facilities also offer various services and programs to residents to help support and meet the diverse needs of victims of abuse. Services offered generally differ by facility and may reflect facility size, its location, and length of stays, as well as broader community or regional needs.
In 2024/2025, most residential facilities offered safety or protection planning (97%), advocacy on behalf of individuals (90%), housing referrals (85%), counselling for children (82%), and individual counselling for adults (82%) (Table 3).
There were some differences in the types of services offered by short-term and long-term facilities. Notably, almost all short-term facilities offered a crisis phone line (97%), and a majority offered transportation services (83%), while crisis phone lines (42%) and transportation services (61%) were less commonly offered in long-term facilities.
Pet accommodations were offered in more than one-quarter (27%) of facilities, a service that may encourage and support victims in leaving abusive situations.
Average length of stay exceeds the mandated maximum for more than one-third of short-term facilities
More than one-third (35%) of short-term facilities reported an average length of stay of three months or more in 2024/2025, surpassing the typical mandated maximum of up to three months (Chart 2). Almost half (48%) of short-term facilities reported an average length of stay of one to less than three months, in line with the typical mandated maximum. Meanwhile, slightly less than one in five (18%) reported an average length of stay that was less than one month.
Chart 2
Average length of stay in short-term residential facilities for victims of abuse, by region, Canada, 2024/2025
Facilities in Ontario reported the highest proportion of short-term facilities with an average length of stay of three months or longer (60%). This was followed by facilities in the Atlantic region (43%).
One-third of short-term facilities are considered full on snapshot date
In 2024/2025, there were 7,610 funded beds in short-term facilities and 1,433 units in long-term facilities across Canada. On the snapshot date (April 30, 2025), a predetermined business day selected to represent a typical day of operations for shelters, just over 7 in 10 (72%) funded beds in short-term facilities were occupied and one-third (33%) of short-term facilities were considered full (Table 4). Among long-term facilities, more than half (55%) of units were occupied on the snapshot date and just over one-quarter (26%) of facilities were considered full.
Most beds in Quebec (89%) and Ontario (81%) were occupied on the snapshot date, reflecting the highest occupancy rates reported by short-term facilities among the provinces (Chart 3).
Chart 3
Occupancy rate for short-term residential facilities for victims of abuse, by province or territory, Canada, April 30, 2025
The lowest occupancy rate among the provinces was reported by short-term facilities in Manitoba, with just under half (47%) of beds occupied on the snapshot date. In the territories, the highest occupancy rates were reported by short-term facilities in Nunavut, with over half (53%) of beds occupied on the snapshot date.
Among the provinces, a larger proportion of short-term facilities in Quebec (55%) and Saskatchewan (40%) were considered full on the snapshot date. In comparison, a smaller proportion of short-term facilities in Newfoundland and Labrador (21%) were considered full on this date.
Occupancy rates of short-term facilities are higher in urban areas on snapshot date
Short-term facilities located in urban areas of the country reported an overall higher occupancy rate on the snapshot date (74%) compared with those in rural areas (65%) (Table 4). Following general patterns for short-term facilities, those in urban areas of Quebec (92%) and Ontario (81%) reported the highest occupancy rates.
While facilities in rural areas reported overall lower occupancy rates, high occupancy rates were noted for those located in rural areas of Saskatchewan (98%) and New Brunswick (82%).
Majority of residents on snapshot date are women and accompanying children
On the snapshot date, there were 7,918 residents staying in residential facilities for victims of abuse across Canada (Table 5).
Women (51%) and accompanying children (49%) accounted for almost all residents on the snapshot date, while men and adults of another gender comprised less than 1% of residents. This pattern was consistent for short- and long-term facilities, as well as facilities located in urban and rural areas.
The vast majority (94%) of women residents on the snapshot date were staying in facilities for reasons of abuse, while a smaller proportion (6%) were residing in facilities for other reasons, such as homelessness. Specific information on reasons other than abuse is not collected.
About two-thirds of women residents on snapshot date are aged 25 to 44
On the snapshot date, almost two-thirds (65%) of women in residential facilities for victims of abuse were aged 25 to 44. Of these women, most were aged 35 to 44 (41%), followed by those aged 30 to 34 (33%) and 25 to 29 (26%).
Just under 1 in 5 (18%) women residents on the snapshot date were aged 45 to 64, 1 in 10 (10%) were aged 18 to 24, and a small proportion were aged 65 and over (2%).
Almost one in five women residents on snapshot date are Indigenous
The traumatic history of colonization continues to impact First Nations people, Métis and Inuit (Indigenous peoples) through ongoing inequalities and systemic barriers, in which violence and abuse are rooted. Both police-reported and self-reported victimization data show that Indigenous peoples are overrepresented as victims of abuse.
On the snapshot date, almost one-fifth of women (19%) and accompanying children (20%) in residential facilities for victims of abuse were Indigenous (Table 6). In comparison, Indigenous women accounted for 5% of the adult women population and Indigenous children accounted for 8% of the child population in Canada based on the 2021 Census of Population.
In 2024/2025, just over one-tenth (11%) of residential facilities for victims of abuse reported that their facility was an Indigenous organization, or an organization guided by First Nations, Métis or Inuit teachings. Most (89%) of these facilities operated short-term accommodations and almost three in five (59%) were located in rural areas.
One-third of women residents on snapshot date are part of a racialized group
On the snapshot date, one-third (33%) of women residents were part of a racialized population group, similar to the proportion among women in the Canadian population (32%).
More than one-tenth (13%) of women residents were non-permanent residents on the snapshot date, almost twice the proportion among women in the Canadian population (7%).
On snapshot date, 1 in 10 women residents have a disability
On the snapshot date, about 1 in 10 women (10%) and accompanying children (8%) in residential facilities for victims of abuse had a disability. Most facilities did not offer many services for victims with disabilities. About one-quarter of facilities offered services for persons with hearing (28%) or developmental or intellectual (26%) disabilities, while smaller proportions offered services for persons with visual (23%) or mobility (21%) disabilities.
Wheelchair accessibility also varied among types of shelter, with 80% of short-term facilities reporting being wheelchair accessible compared with 63% of long-term facilities.
Almost one-third of women residents on snapshot date have a history of homelessness
Almost one-third (32%) of women residents on the snapshot date, and nearly one-quarter (24%) of accompanying children, had a prior history of homelessness. This experience of homelessness may have been absolute (e.g., living on the street or in parks, laneways or other makeshift shelters) or hidden (e.g., living in temporary accommodations or as a house guest of family, friends or strangers).
Almost 7 in 10 women residents on snapshot date have experienced physical abuse
Women residents seeking shelter for reasons of abuse had experienced a wide range of abuse, with some facing multiple types, prior to arriving at the facility (Table 7). The majority (87%) of women residents on the snapshot date had experienced emotional or psychological abuse. Almost 7 in 10 (69%) had experienced physical abuse, and over half (55%) had experienced financial abuse. Sexual abuse (31%) and harassment (31%) were experienced by almost one-third of women residents. A small proportion of women residents had experienced human trafficking (5%), including trafficking for sex work or for forced labour.
Current or former intimate partner is the primary abuser for almost four in five women residents on snapshot date
A current or former intimate partner was identified as the primary abuser for almost four in five (78%) women residing in shelters for victims of abuse on the snapshot date (Chart 4). More specifically, the primary perpetrator was commonly identified as a common-law partner (32%), a spouse (24%), a former common-law partner (8%) or a former spouse (5%).
Chart 4
Relationship of abuser to women in residential facilities primarily for reasons of abuse, Canada, April 30, 2025
About 3 in 10 women residents on snapshot date have reported abuse to police
Residential facilities reported that almost 3 in 10 (29%) women residents on the snapshot date had reported the abuse that led them to seek shelter to police (Chart 5).
Chart 5
Women in residential facilities for reasons of abuse who reported to the police the abuse that led them to seek shelter, by region, Canada, April 30, 2025
The proportion of women in residential facilities who had reported the abuse to police ranged from 36% in British Columbia to 18% in Alberta.
Almost four in five women residents with parental responsibilities admitted to facility with children on snapshot date
On the snapshot date, 7 in 10 (70%) women in residential facilities for victims of abuse had parental responsibilities, of which, almost 4 in 5 (78%) were admitted to a residential facility with one or more children.
Residential facilities reported that women residents with parental responsibilities were protecting their children from multiple types of abuse, including exposure to violence (79%), emotional and psychological abuse (76%), and physical abuse (49%).
Almost one-quarter of women residents on snapshot date are repeat clients
The vast majority (91%) of facilities for victims of abuse allowed repeat clients. On the snapshot date, almost one-quarter (24%) of women residents in shelters for victims of abuse had previously received services as a resident, while one-tenth (10%) had previously received services on an outreach basis only. Less than half (45%) of women residents had not previously been served in the past year. It is important to note that information about repeat clients is collected for a single facility, and it is unknown whether a current resident previously resided at another facility.
Most common issue facing residents is a lack of affordable long-term housing
Finding affordable housing is an issue for many Canadians, and this may be especially true for victims of abuse. More than four in five (86%) facilities for victims of abuse indicated that one of the top challenges facing their residents in 2024/2025 was the lack of affordable long-term housing (Table 8). A lack of affordable housing may be further exacerbated by underemployment and low incomes, which were also identified as a major issue facing residents (40%).
Mirroring the most common issue facing residents, residential facilities reported that a lack of permanent housing (41%) was the most common issue facing facilities (Table 9). This was followed by lack of funding (36%) and staff turnover (30%).
Short-term facilities account for the majority of funding and expenditures
In 2024/2025, residential facilities for victims of abuse reported receiving almost $731 million in funding, with short-term facilities receiving the majority (88%) of funding (Table 10). The largest proportion of funding came from provincial or territorial governments (69%). This was the case for short-term (72%) and long-term (54%) facilities. Long-term facilities received more funding from regional and municipal governments (10%) compared with short-term facilities (3%).
Collectively, facilities for victims of abuse reported spending just under $700 million for their operations in 2024/2025. Short-term facilities accounted for a large majority (88%) of these expenses. The largest share of expenses covered salary costs (72%). This was the case for short-term (73%) and long-term (66%) facilities.
Almost two-thirds of facilities have made physical repairs or improvements
Almost two-thirds (65%) of residential facilities made physical repairs or improvements to their facility in 2024/2025. Of these facilities, more than two in five (42%) reported that major repairs or improvements were made to meet legal requirements for safety reasons or to meet municipal building codes. In addition, almost four in five (78%) facilities that made physical repairs or improvements reported that minor repairs were made, such as repairs to bricks or shingles, or defective steps.
Chart 6
Funding sources for physical repairs to residential facilities for victims of abuse, Canada, 2024/2025
Over half (53%) of facilities that made repairs reported that provincial or territorial governments were the source of funding for these repairs (Chart 6), while just under half (48%) of facilities reported that funding came from fundraising or donations.
Note to readers
The Survey of Residential Facilities for Victims of Abuse (SRFVA) is a census of Canadian residential facilities primarily mandated to provide residential services to victims of abuse (defined as ongoing victimization). The term "residential facility" refers to any building, location or service that provides housing to individuals, regardless of the length of stay (days, months or years). The primary mandate of such a facility refers to the main activity or service provided.
The objective of the SRFVA is to produce aggregate statistics on the services offered by these facilities during the previous 12-month reference period, as well as to provide a one-day snapshot of the clientele being served on a specific date (April of the survey year). The intent of the survey is to provide information that is useful for various levels of government, sheltering and other non-profit organizations, service providers and researchers to assist in developing research, policy and programs, as well as identifying funding needs for residential facilities for victims of abuse.
The 2024/2025 cycle is the fourth of the survey. The first cycle of the SRFVA was conducted in 2017/2018, following a major redesign of its predecessor: the Transition Home Survey. Where applicable, results are compared with those from the three previous cycles—2022/2023, 2020/2021, and 2017/2018—identifying broader trends over time.
Active data collection for the SRFVA took place from April to September 2025. Data collection was conducted through a self-administered electronic questionnaire. Follow-ups by Statistics Canada interviewers for non-respondents and cases of incomplete questionnaires were facilitated through the use of computer-assisted telephone interviews.
Facilities surveyed were identified by Statistics Canada through its consultations with provincial and territorial governments, transition home associations, other associations, and a review of entities on the Statistics Canada Business Register. Facilities potentially in-scope were then contacted prior to the collection of the survey to determine their primary mandate. These may include short-term, long-term and mixed-use facilities; transition homes; second-stage housing; safe home networks; satellites; women's emergency centres; emergency shelters; Interim Housing (Manitoba only); Rural Family Violence Prevention Centres (Alberta only); family resource centres; and any other residential facilities offering services to victims of abuse with or without children.
Of the 561 residential facilities that identified their primary mandate as providing services to victims of abuse in 2024/2025, 424 returned their questionnaire for a response rate of 76%. Imputation was used to complete the missing data for key questions for those respondents who did not provide their information through the questionnaire and for those respondents who provided incomplete questionnaires. Imputation methods included the use of trend-adjusted historical data when available and donor imputation, where values are taken from a similar record in terms of facility location, type and size. The key questions for which imputation was carried out are: number of beds, number of units, number of residents for reasons of abuse, whether or not facility serves repeat clients, relationship to primary abuser, number of people turned away from facility, number of departures from facility, average length of stay, number of admissions, revenues and expenses.
Throughout this release, analyses exclude facilities that did not provide a response to the specific question being analyzed. The percentage of excluded facilities or residents varies by question and by region. For questions where there was an unknown answer category, calculations include these unknown responses. The sum of percentages may not add up to 100% because of rounding.
For more information and copies of the questionnaire, refer to the Statistics Canada survey information page: Survey of Residential Facilities for Victims of Abuse.
The information presented in this release refers to two distinct time periods. First, data pertaining to the number of annual admissions, average length of stay and financial information are based on a 12-month reference period (2024/2025) that preceded the SRFVA. Respondents were asked to select a 12-month reference period that most closely resembled the period their facility refers to in its annual reports. Second, the characteristics of facilities and the types of services offered, as well as the profile of those using residential facilities, are based on the snapshot date of April 30, 2025.
The snapshot date is a predetermined business day meant to represent a typical day of operations for facilities across Canada. The April date was selected based on consultations with service providers. It reflected a period of relative stability in terms of admissions and respondents could maximize the resources available to respond to the survey. The snapshot date does not reflect seasonal differences in facility use nor long-term trends throughout the year.
Short-term residential facilities include facilities with an expected length of stay of less than three months, which typically provide individual beds to residents (e.g., transition homes, domestic violence shelters or private homes that are part of safe home networks).
Long-term residential facilities include facilities with an expected length of stay of three months or longer, which typically provide residential units, such as apartments or houses, to residents (e.g., second- and third-stage housing).
An admission refers to the official acceptance of a resident into the facility, with the allocation of a bed, child's bed, crib, bedroom or bedroom unit, or apartment. The total number of admissions is based on all admissions for the 12-month reference period and includes people who may have been admitted more than once. Each shelter visit is counted as a separate admission. For example, the same person being admitted to a facility three times in a year would count as three admissions.
The occupancy rate for residential facilities provides an indicator of the total space being used at a given point in time.
The short-term occupancy rate is calculated by dividing the total number of residents on the snapshot date by the total number of funded beds, multiplied by 100. Short-term facilities are identified as being full if their occupancy rate is 90% or more.
The long-term occupancy rate is calculated by dividing the total number of funded units that were occupied on the snapshot date by the total number of funded units, multiplied by 100. Long-term facilities were considered full if their occupancy rate was 100% as a unit is typically an apartment or house.
"Women" includes transgender adults identifying as female, and "men" includes transgender adults identifying as male.
Information on Indigenous identity is based on the Indigenous identity question from the SRFVA. The survey asked facilities about the number of residents who identified as Indigenous, defined as: First Nations people, Métis and Inuit. First Nations people include Status and Non-Status Indians.
'Racialized population group' is measured by the visible minority variable. The term visible minority refers to whether a person belongs to a visible minority group as defined by the Employment Equity Act and, if so, the visible minority group to which the person belongs. The Employment Equity Act defines visible minorities as "persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour." The racialized (visible minority) population consists mainly of the following groups: South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese.
Demographic characteristics of residents are reported by residential facilities for victims of abuse and not by the residents themselves.
Population data are based on projected estimates for 2025 based on the 2021 Census of Population, produced by Statistics Canada's Centre for Demography.
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Additional data are available upon request.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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