A new commentary published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), titled “Tackling the crisis of homelessness among pregnant and parenting people in Canada,” sheds light on this urgent issue and offers actionable recommendations for how health systems, social services, and governments can better support this vulnerable population.
Why This Matters
Pregnant and parenting people experiencing homelessness face disproportionate health risks — including higher rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and infant morbidity. They often encounter barriers to prenatal and pediatric care, compounded by systemic stigma, fear of child apprehension, and a lack of coordinated services.
This population is often overlooked in both research and policy, yet the impacts of homelessness during pregnancy and early childhood can echo across generations.
What the Paper Highlights:
- Key risks facing pregnant and parenting people without stable housing
- The intersection of homelessness with gender, trauma, and poverty
- Promising models that integrate housing with health and social supports
The authors call on health professionals, housing providers, and policymakers to adopt coordinated, trauma-informed, and family-centered approaches to care. Interventions must go beyond emergency shelters and address long-term housing stability, mental health, substance use, and child development — all within a framework that centers dignity, safety, and choice.