Toronto’s population is aging. Our city currently has more residents over the age of 65 than children aged 15 and under — and by 2041, the number of seniors is expected to double. While the pandemic drew public attention to the lack of adequate care for vulnerable seniors, many were experiencing significant challenges long before COVID-19 emerged.
Toronto has one of the highest rates of senior poverty in Canada. The poverty rate is particularly high among Indigenous, racialized and immigrant seniors, with women in these communities at a greater disadvantage. Seniors living on low incomes face a range of issues, from food insecurity to social isolation to having to manage health problems without access to home care.Housing affordability is a key concern among senior renters. One in five senior tenant households spends 50% or more of their income on housing, which puts them at risk of homelessness in the event of a health crisis, loss of a partner, and the rising cost of living.
