The prevalence of homelessness and its social, economic, cultural, and health consequences are a problem for governments and others working in this field. However, it is difficult to define homelessness, to count homeless persons or to estimate their population, and to determine the appropriate method to be used in a study. Using data from the “Poverty, homelessness and migration” project, the levels, experiences and reasons for homelessness among Francophones in Timmins and North Bay were studied and compared with those of Anglophones and Aboriginals in these two communities.