Homelessness has been on the rise in Europe over the past decade, with countries like France and Germany seeing a significant increase. The European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) warns that the number of homeless individuals in the EU and the UK is close to one million. The homelessness spike is particularly noticeable in France and the UK, which have the highest rates of homelessness across Europe. Official data on homelessness varies greatly across countries, making international comparisons challenging.
According to a recent OECD report, England has the highest rate of homelessness, with 43 homeless people per 10,000 residents. France has the highest rate of homelessness per 10,000 people in the EU, followed by Czechia, Germany, and Ireland. The Nordic countries reported comparatively lower rates of homelessness. Different methodologies, such as point-in-time counts and flow counts, provide different perspectives on the issue. In France and England, homelessness has doubled in little over a decade.
The total number of homeless individuals in the UK, France, and Germany exceeds one million when including those living in institutions, non-conventional dwellings, and temporary housing with family and friends. The OECD report estimates around 333,000 homeless people in France, 263,000 in Germany, and 309,000 in England. The number of homeless households has more than doubled in England and France between 2010 and 2023. Policy choices, an unfavorable economic context, and lack of affordable housing are identified as key factors contributing to the homelessness crisis.
Ruth Owen, Deputy Director of FEANTSA, points out that councils in England are increasingly relying on temporary accommodation to manage homelessness as the central government focuses on ending rough sleeping. High insecurity in the private rental sector in England is also a factor contributing to the homelessness crisis. Ireland and the Netherlands have also experienced significant increases in homelessness in recent years. FEANTSA highlights that there are multiple pathways into homelessness, with a complex interplay of structural, institutional, relationship, and personal factors often contributing to someone becoming homeless.
In conclusion, the increase in homelessness across Europe is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors. Policy choices, an unfavorable economic context, and lack of affordable housing are among the key reasons for the rise in homelessness. Different methodologies for counting homeless individuals provide varying perspectives on the problem. Efforts to address homelessness must take into consideration the unique challenges faced by each country and focus on long-term solutions that address the root causes of homelessness.
