According to specialists, poverty is an escalating issue in Canada, with numerous organizations and government bodies adopting innovative technology to tackle this challenge.
One of the key tools in this effort is Artificial Intelligence (AI), which employs algorithms to analyze data and make predictions about future trends.
By leveraging AI, municipalities can gain deeper insights into individuals at risk of severe poverty, a term referring to those who have been without stable housing for at least a year.
AI algorithms can also forecast which Canadian neighborhoods are likely to experience higher poverty rates and identify the contributing factors to homelessness by analyzing extensive datasets.
Tim Richter, the president of the Canadian Alliance to Ending Homelessness (CAEH), highlighted the potential of AI in targeting preventive measures for individuals. For example, AI could help city planners determine the appropriate housing needs and rental rates in various neighborhoods to prevent homelessness effectively.
WHO IS AT RISK, PREDICTING
Craig Cooper, the director of housing security services for the City of London, Ontario, witnessed a significant increase in the utilization of the city’s shelter program following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cooper noted a threefold rise in the number of individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness, attributing this surge to the city’s rapid growth and strained housing and rental markets.
London’s social support programs, like those in many other Canadian cities, are facing challenges due to being underfunded and overburdened, leading organizations to prioritize assistance based on critical needs.
In 2021, London implemented an AI engine to create a predictive list to assess an individual’s likelihood of experiencing chronic homelessness.
While the AI model has proven beneficial in enhancing professionals’ understanding of the situation, Cooper emphasized that it alone cannot resolve the homelessness crisis due to the lack of adequate housing resources.
MODEL DISPLAYED HOMELESS PROJECTS IN CANADA
A report by Statistics Canada in June 2023 revealed that over 25,216 individuals in 61 communities across Canada were experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2018.
The report estimated that approximately 235,000 individuals in the country face some form of poverty annually, underscoring the urgency for governments and organizations to leverage AI insights to prevent the worsening of destitution.
Alina Turner, CEO of HelpSeeker, a technology firm addressing social issues, expressed concerns about the lack of urgency among authorities in responding to the homelessness crisis.
Turner’s team of tech and AI experts utilized an algorithm to predict the potential increase in homelessness post-COVID by analyzing various socio-economic factors across 60 Canadian municipalities.
The AI projections indicated that metropolitan areas like Metro Vancouver and Greater Toronto could experience a rapid escalation in homelessness, with southern Alberta and other Plains regions also facing significant challenges.
Despite the advancements in AI technology, Richter from CAEH acknowledged its limitations in fully addressing poverty in Canada, emphasizing the importance of accurate data and understanding the root causes of homelessness.
While AI can be instrumental in problem-solving, Richter cautioned that it is not a standalone solution but rather a valuable tool in the broader effort to combat homelessness effectively.
