Many university students struggling with homelessness: study

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]As students head to class and meet up with friends, for some there's a reality few can see, homelessness. Couch surfing, sleeping in 24-hour student buildings, um staying in their cars, or just sleeping in very precarious housing situations where at any point their housing could be removed from them.

[00:00:19]Emily Burg is a lead research associate for a national study on student homelessness. They found 40% of students across Canada experience hidden homelessness. About 32% of students in Nova Scotia were experiencing that hidden homelessness. 32% of students also said they were at risk of homelessness, so at any given point they could lose their housing. Reasons vary from domestic violence to an inability to afford rent coupled with daily expenses. Way too expensive. It's way too expensive. Cost of tuition, like plus the fact that you have to try and find somewhere in Halifax, which is like one of the highest rates of rent in the entire country.

[00:00:56]I would not be shocked about couch surfing. I've considered couch surfing instead of paying my rent. The survey also shed light on the mental health cost of being homeless. Had to worry about school, they had to worry about where their next meal was coming from. A lot of the students, specifically at Nova Scotia, about 50% of students out east were accessing the food bank while experiencing their homelessness.

[00:01:17]>> The Dalhousie Student Union says this is a common issue they see, and students aren't able to participate socially, economically, or professionally if they're struggling with basic needs.

[00:01:27]Recently, I met a student who came to us, came to my office hours, and they said to me that they've spent two nights in the university. They didn't eat anything for 4 days because of because of the problem of economical problem.

[00:01:44]>> Students are encouraged to come forward as there are resources to help. Emma Conway, CTV News, Halifax.