Homelessness Rate in England Doubled in the Last 13 Years

EU and UK face a homelessness crisis with 1M people on streets each night. UK has highest rate, followed by France, Czech Republic, and more.

According to the latest figures, approximately one million people sleep on the streets every night in the European Union and the UK.

Research by the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) indicates that homelessness has become one of Europe’s most pressing issues.

FEANTSA’s report highlights a rapid increase in the number of people living on the streets in many capitals and cities across the continent, including areas previously unaffected by homelessness.

The organization noted that these statistics only account for the most visible cases, warning that “the true number of homeless is likely to be much higher.”

The United Kingdom has the highest homelessness rate in the European Union, with 42.6 homeless individuals per 10,000 people. It is followed by France (30.7), the Czech Republic (28.4), Germany (25.8), and Ireland (25.3).

These figures reflect the state of homelessness at a specific point in time, but the issue is often fluid and evolving, depending on individual circumstances.

To gain a more comprehensive understanding, methods based on data collection over a period of time, known as “flow counts,” can offer a different perspective. For instance, examining the number of people staying in shelters over a year provides a more detailed look at the dynamics of homelessness.

In the flow category, Latvia reported around 32 homeless individuals per 10,000 people in 2023. Austria’s rate rose to 21.7 per 10,000, while Slovenia and Italy reported rates of 16.8 and 16.3 per 10,000, respectively.

Türkiye is at the bottom of the list with the lowest reported rates of homelessness.