BRUSSELS: More than 1.27 million people sleep on the streets or in shelters across Europe each night, while nearly 5% of the EU population has experienced some form of homelessness, an activist said Thursday, marking World Homeless Day, according to Anadolu News Agency.
Ruth Owen, deputy director of the Federation of National Organizations Working with the Homeless in Europe, told Anadolu that homelessness as a “deeply rooted crisis,” particularly in major urban centers. She said the latest European data show at least 1.27 million people in Europe sleep rough or in shelters nightly, calling it a “conservative estimate” that only captures visible homelessness.
Owen explained that the new European-level statistics expand the definition of homelessness to include people staying temporarily with family or friends due to lack of housing. “That comes to almost 5% of the EU population (who) have experienced some form of homelessness in their lifetime,” she said.
Brussels Among Hardest Hit
Homelessness has worsened in many European cities, with Brussels standing out as one of the starkest examples. “I think when the first time there was a count of the homeless population in Brussels was in 2008, and it was like 1,700 people. And now it’s more like 10,000. One of them is definitely the cost of housing in the city,” Owen said.
She noted that rising rents, stagnant wages, and lack of affordable housing have created an unprecedented urban housing crisis. Local organizations in Belgium have warned that without stronger rent regulation and investment in social housing, the situation will continue to deteriorate.
Germany Tops Europe’s Homeless List
Germany currently has the largest homeless population in Europe, with around 530,000 people, according to Owen. She said the figure reflects both a comprehensive national census and a broader understanding of homelessness.
She contrasted this with the Greek Cypriot administration, which officially reports zero homelessness. However, she said survey data tell a different story. “When you look at this EU Silk questionnaire … people are asked, ‘have you ever had to sleep in a public place?’ … And there, I think it’s like 11% of the population have experienced that. So it’s quite an interesting contrast,” Owen explained.
Sharp Rise in France’s Homeless Numbers
In France, homelessness increased by 20,000 last year, reaching 350,000, according to a 2025 report by the Foundation for the Homeless (formerly Abbe Pierre). The report cited stagnant housing construction, soaring rents, and lack of government action as main causes.
It added that 2.7 million people are currently waiting for public housing, while only 393,000 were allocated such housing in 2023. The report also highlighted that the number of homeless people in France rose 130% between 2002 and 2022, warning that without political will, the crisis could worsen.
Housing First’ as a Proven Solution
As a remedy, Owen urged European governments to expand public housing programs and regulate property markets. “I think we need to make housing more affordable for people with very low incomes, including regulating the housing market, building public housing, and providing income support to households,” she said.
She cited the Housing First model—granting immediate access to stable housing—as one of Europe’s most effective solutions. “There’s an intervention called Housing First, which has been something of a revolution in the homeless sector. It’s basically a very simple idea that if you’re homeless … your primary problem is that you need a house and you should be supported to access a house as quickly as possible,” Owen said.
“Finland is a real success story,” she added. “It reduced its homeless population from about 20,000 to 3,000 over two decades.”
