OCDE - Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026 - Dinamarca de 2026

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DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: DENMARK © OECD 2026

Summary of key data and information Summary of key data and information Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1) Homelessness in Denmark is defined as “those who do not have their own (owned or rented) accommodation or room, but who are referred to temporary or who live temporarily without a contract with family, friends, or acquaintances. Homeless persons are also defined as without a place to stay for the coming night.” Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3) 5 989 individuals, representing 0.1% of the total population (2024) 24% are women, 76% are men Point-in-time count, based on Mapping of Homelessness in Denmark ETHOS Light groups included Included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) • ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions • ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing) Not included: • ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4) There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in Denmark.

Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) • National Homelessness Strategy: National Agreement on Affordable Housing and the Effort to Combat Homelessness Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6) • Mapping of Homelessness in Denmark: Biennial national survey of people experiencing homelessness

Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) • National Homelessness Strategy: National Agreement on Affordable Housing and the Effort to Combat Homelessness Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6) • Mapping of Homelessness in Denmark: Biennial national survey of people experiencing homelessness (Table 6.1) • National Client Registration System: Ongoing collection of information of people experiencing homelessness (Table 6.2).

Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Denmark2  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: DENMARK © OECD 2026

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness Statistical definition Homelessness In the national Mapping of Homelessness in Denmark, homelessness is defined as follows: ‘’Homeless people are those who do not have their own (owned) or rented) accommodation or room, but who are referred to temporary or who live temporarily without a contract with family, friends or acquaintances. Homeless persons are also defined as without a place to stay for the coming night.” This definition is then operationalised into eight categories:

1. Overnight on the street, in a stairwell, in a shed or similar.

2. Overnights in a night heating room/residence with emergency accommodation or similar.

3. Overnights in emergency/temporary accommodation such as hostels and nursing homes.

4. Stays in a hotel, hostel or similar due to homelessness.

5. Lives temporarily and without a contract with family, friends or acquaintances.

6. Lives in temporary housing without a permanent contract.

7. Serving time under the Correctional Service, must be released within 1 month and lacks a housing solution.

8. Stays in hospital/treatment facilities, must be discharged within 1 month and lacks a housing solution.

9. Other things Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology Year Headline estimate of homelessness

(Individuals) % of total population ETHOS Light 1 People

9. Other things Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology Year Headline estimate of homelessness

(Individuals) % of total population ETHOS Light 1 People living rough ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends 2017 6 635 0.12% NA NA NA NA NA NA 2022 5 789 0.10% 535 248 2 736 195 Not included 1 152 2024 5 989 0.10% 503 317 2 721 184 Not included 1 447

Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time • Data are comparable across years: Yes

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: Yes o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: No ‒ Refugees: No ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No Note: Of the 5 989 individuals experiencing homelessness, the situation of 382 people was labelled “Other”, and for 289 individuals, the situation was not disclosed. The data do not include individuals without a permanent residence permit and/or a Danish Personal Identification Number (CPR number).

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Danish Centre for Social Science Research (2024), Mapping of Homelessness in Denmark.

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2024 Single adults Men Women Youth (aged <17) Older people (aged 60 and

in Denmark. Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2024 Single adults Men Women Youth (aged <17) Older people (aged 60 and over) Families with children (# of households) Headline estimate of homelessness NA 4 557 1 408 34 500 NA As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness NA 76.80% 23.70% 0.59% 8.62% NA 3

DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: DENMARK © OECD 2026

ETHOS Light 1: People living rough NA 84 16 Not included 9 NA ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation NA 71 29 Not included 11 NA ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless NA 77 23 Not included 10 NA ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions NA 167 33 Not included 8 NA ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings NA Not included Not included Not included Not Included NA ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends NA 74 26 Not included 4 NA Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: Yes o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: No ‒ Refugees: No ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No Note: Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Danish Centre for Social Science Research (2024), Mapping of Homelessness in Denmark.

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness Legal framework Law that governs data collection on homelessness None. Legal obligations None. Table 5. Homelessness strategy Homelessness strategies in place

in Denmark. Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness Legal framework Law that governs data collection on homelessness None. Legal obligations None. Table 5. Homelessness strategy Homelessness strategies in place National Homelessness Strategy National Agreement on Affordable Housing and the Effort to Combat Homelessness Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist No. Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness 6.1. Mapping of Homelessness in Denmark Description National survey of homelessness over a week through social services, civil society organisations and local authorities. First, the Danish Centre for Social Science Research delimits the social services, civil society organisations and the local authorities to be targeted. Second, people experiencing homelessness using the targeted services fill out an individual questionnaire over the reference period.

Type of count generated Point-in-time Methods • Service-based method • Street Count Lead authority(ies) • Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing • Danish Centre for Social Science Research Source(s) of information Service providers interview people experiencing homelessness directly and then report the data.4  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: DENMARK © OECD 2026

Scope National scope Depth of data Socio-demographic characteristics are taken into account, and the data is disaggregated by: sex, age, duration of homelessness, ethnic background, etc.). Frequency Every two years (in 2021 it was postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

ETHOS Light groups included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) • ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions • ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing)

• ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions • ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing)

Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more subcategories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Notes and sources Official report

6.2. National client registration system Description Danish authorities collect data on shelter use through the ‘’National Clien t Registration System’’, which provides data on th e number of shelters stays and their length, as well as information about the users which are linked with other variables obtained through administrative data. Individuals accessing services must register their unique ‘’Central Personal Register (CRP) number’’, whic h serves as a personal identifier and allows for i nformation to be collected on shelter use and length of stay. This system is used in conjunction with the Mapping of Homelessness in Denmark (See table 4.1.DNK). Type of count generated Flow (period) Methods Information management system on individuals experiencing homelessness Lead authority(ies) National Social Appears Board in conjunction with other institutions (Statistics Denmark, etc.). Data usage is allowed by then Danish Data Protection agency. Source(s) of information The shelters report the data to the authorities. Scope National level Depth of data Data on shelter use and stay is then crossed with sociodemographic variables (background variables) obtained from administrative data (which is facilitated by service providers) Frequency Ongoing ETHOS Light groups included: • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters)

Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more subcategories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing

Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more subcategories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housingdatabase.html.

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DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: DENMARK © OECD 2026

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