Asylum claimants occupying 12% of London’s homeless shelter beds

In the midst of a homelessness crisis, an influx of asylum seekers is putting additional pressure on London, Ont.’s limited number of permanent shelter beds.

In the midst of a homelessness crisis, an influx of asylum seekers is putting additional pressure on London, Ont.’s limited number of permanent shelter beds.

A report to council’s Community and Protective Services (CAPS) Committee attempts to quantify the financial impact on the city’s shelter system.

According to a municipal database, between May 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024 there were 123 individual asylum claimants who spent a total of 11,073 nights in emergency shelter beds — 11.9 per cent of the city’s capacity.

The actual number of asylum seekers in shelters is likely even higher.

The report acknowledges limitations in the data because some people may not disclose their personal information and others may be accessing shelters that do not utilize the database.

At an average cost of $96.66 per night, shelter costs have exceeded $1 million.

An additional $31,500 has been spent on hotel and motel rooms for families waiting for space to become available at Rotholme Family Shelter.