The issue is critical because homeless migrants often do not fit neatly into existing support frameworks, which are typically designed for domestic populations. These migrants face language barriers, stigma, economic instability, and limited access to government programs due to their immigration status. As such, they fall through the cracks of both social housing and homeless support systems, competing with local homeless populations for limited resources. The increasing number of migrants adds pressure to housing markets, especially in urban centers like Montreal and other Canadian cities, where affordable housing is already scarce. In light of these challenges, this growing and highly vulnerable group remains largely overlooked in existing housing research, highlighting a critical gap that urgently requires attention.

Our team adopts a comprehensive definition of ‘homelessness,’ encompassing both its visible aspects—such as individuals living on the streets or in shelters—and its less visible forms, including “couch-surfing” or residing in extremely inadequate or precarious conditions, such as overcrowded, unsafe, or unhealthy environments. Additionally, we draw on the definition of ‘trajectory’ provided by Aubry et al. (2021) which describes it as the dynamic and evolving pathway an individual follows through various housing situations, social networks, and geographic spaces, influenced by systemic factors, personal circumstances, and resource availability.