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

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

Summary of key data and information Summary of key data and information Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1) A homeless person is defined as a person who does not have access during the reference period, to housing that meets commonly accepted criteria of human habitability, whether or not the housing is legally owned, rented, or occupied free of charge with the permission of the owner, or under contract or other arrangement of a non-temporary nature (including those provided by the public sector or non-governmental organisations and those provided by employers). Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3) 28 552 individuals, representing 0.06% of the total population (2022) 23% are women, 77% are men Point-in-time count, based on the Survey of the Homeless People 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 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) Not included: • ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions • ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing) 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 Spain. Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) National Homelessness Strategy: National Strategy to Combat Homelessness in Spain 2023-2030

Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4) There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in Spain. Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) National Homelessness Strategy: National Strategy to Combat Homelessness in Spain 2023-2030 • Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategy addressing homelessness: The National Deinstitutionalisation Strategy for Good Community Living • Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6) • Survey of the homeless people (Encuesta a las personas sin hogar) (EPSH): Interviews with people experiencing homelessness in homelessness service centres (Table 6.1) • Survey on centres and services for homeless people (Encuesta de centros y Servicios de atención a las personas sin hogar) (ECAPSH): Online questionnaire to be filled out by homelessness service centres (Table 6.2) 2023 Pilot project for the implementation of overnight counts of homeless persons (Proyecto piloto para la implementación de conteos nocturnos de personas sin hogar): Overnight count with a questionnaire of unsheltered and sheltered people experiencing homelessness in 27 small, medium-sized and large cities (Table 6.3)

Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Spain2  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: SPAIN © OECD 2026

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness Statistical definition Homelessness According to the Survey of the Homeless carried out by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), a homeless person is defined as: a person who does not have access during the reference per iod to housing that meets commonly accepted criteria of human habitability, whether or not the housing is legally owned, rented, or occupied free of charge with the permission of the owner, or under contract or other arrangement of a non-temporary nature (including those provided by the public sector or non-governmental organisations and those provided by employers). As a result, in the absence of a home, these people find themselves obliged to sleep temporarily: On the street; In buildings that

under contract or other arrangement of a non-temporary nature (including those provided by the public sector or non-governmental organisations and those provided by employers). As a result, in the absence of a home, these people find themselves obliged to sleep temporarily: On the street; In buildings that are commonly considered to be unfit for human habitation; In emer gency housing provided by the public sector or nongovernmental organisations; In collective long-stay housing provided by the public sector or non-governmental organisations (non-emergency centres organisations centres for irregular migrants); In boarding houses or guesthouses (in cases where the stay is paid for by an institution either public or private, in view of the person ’s lack of resources); In other short-stay accommodations (in cases where the stay is paid for by an institution, whether public or private, due to the person ’s lack of resources); In squats; In subsidised housing/sheltered housing (as long as the housing is owned by an institution, either public or private). In addition, the following types of centres are included to ensure the continuity of the historical series and comparability: Shelters for women who are victims of gender-based violence; Centres for the reception of returned emigrants; Centres for immigrants: Centres for the temporary stay of immigrants (C.E.T.I.) and Centres fo r the Reception of Refugees (C.A.R.); Centres for the housing of seasonal workers and private employer under labour contract, regardless of who manages such housing. On the other hand, excluded from this definition are persons living in the following types of accommodation: Hospitals; menta l health homes; facilities for the elderly; Prisons; internment centre; Student residences; boarding schools; Juvenile facilities; Barracks; military missions at sea; Moored ships; Mobile homes (circuses); Au -pairs; domestic service; hotel staff living in the hotel itself; Tourists staying in hotels; Subsidised accommodations (as long as the ownership of the dwelling is not held by an institution, whether public or private). Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology Year Headline

hotel itself; Tourists staying in hotels; Subsidised accommodations (as long as the ownership of the dwelling is not held by an institution, whether public or private). 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 2012

22 938

0.06% NA NA NA NA NA NA 2022 28 552 0.06% 7 277 Included under ETHOS 3 18 567 Not included 2 709 Not included Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time • Data are comparable across years: Yes o Children: No o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: Yes ‒ Refugees: Yes ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); National institute of Statistics (Instituto Nacional de Estadística), 2022, Survey of the homeless people (Encuesta a las personas sin hogar) (EPSH). 3

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

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2022 Single adults Men Women Youth (aged 15-29) Adults

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2022 Single adults Men Women Youth (aged 15-29) Adults (aged 30-34) Adults (aged 45-64) Older people (aged 65 and over) Families with children (# of households) Headline estimate of homelessness 28 552 21 900 6 652 6 036 8 573 12 366 1 578 3 129 As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness 100% 76.7% 23.3% 21.2% 30% 43.3% 5.5% 11% ETHOS Light 1: People living rough 7 277 6 771 506 1 617 2 626 2 761 273 204 ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation Included under

ETHOS 3

Included under

ETHOS 3

Included under

ETHOS 3

Included under

ETHOS 3

Included under

ETHOS 3

Included under

ETHOS 3

Included under

ETHOS 3

Included under

ETHOS 3

ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless 18 567 13 369 5 198 4 059 5 164 8 255 1 088 2 606 ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings

ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings 2 709 1 760 949 360 782 1 350 217 681 ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Metadata: • Type of count: Flow

• Included in headline estimate:

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

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); National institute of Statistics (Instituto Nacional de Estadística), 2022, Survey of the homeless people (Encuesta a las personas sin hogar) (EPSH).

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 Homelessness Strategy: National Strategy to Combat Homelessness in Spain 2023-2030 • Homelessness is addressed in another (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategy: The National Deinstitutionalisation Strategy for Good Community Living Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist Yes4  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: SPAIN © OECD 2026

Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness 6.1. Survey of the homeless people (EPSH) Description Information is collected from interviews with individuals who are at least 18 ye ars old that have used accommodation assistance centres and r estoration

Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness 6.1. Survey of the homeless people (EPSH) Description Information is collected from interviews with individuals who are at least 18 ye ars old that have used accommodation assistance centres and r estoration centres in municipalities of at least 20 000 inhabitants in a given year. Accommodation assistance centres refe r to centres where people experiencing homelessness are offered accommodation services (to sleep) and restoration centres refer to centres where people experiencing homelessness are served meals. The survey takes place during the time where the demand for homelessness services is predicted to be the highest. In the 2022 edition, the sampling took place between February and March. Type of count generated Point-in-time Methods Service-based method Lead authority(ies) National Institute of Statistics ( Instituto Nacional de Estadística) (INE) Source(s) of information Individuals experiencing homelessness who are users of an accommodation assistance centre or a restoration centre directly provide information to interviewers from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Scope • National Coverage • Approximately 3 500 accommodation assistance centres and restoration centres were considered in the 2022 survey. Depth of data Sociodemographic characteristics were considered: sex, age, time of residence in Spain, nationality, economic situation, health, family and social ties, use of social services, etc. Frequency No fixed periodicity. The first survey was carried out in 2005, the second in 2012 and the latest in 2022.

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 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents)

• ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) • ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents)

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.

6.2. Survey on centres and services for homeless people (ECAPSH) Description An online questionnaire is distributed to homeless care centres offering housing, catering services and/or street assistance. The survey focusses on services provided, the characteristics of clients, and funding sources. All homelessness centres registered in the directory of clients of the National Institute of Statistics (Instituto Nacional de Estadistica) (INE) are provided with the questionnaire. Type of count generated Point-in-time Methods Service-based method Lead authority(ies) National Institute of Statistics ( Instituto Nacional de Estadística) (INE). Source(s) of information Homeless care centres complete the questionnaire directly. Scope National level Depth of data • The questionnaire disaggregates the centres by their specialisation (women who are victims of gender-based violence, migrants, other specialisation or none) and by the service provided: (accommodation in flats or apartments, shelters, overnight shelters, soup kitchens, etc). • The number of clients is disaggregated by sex for some services. Frequency Biennial.

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)

Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more subcategories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data

• ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges)

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. 5

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

Notes and sources The questionnaire does not intend to enumerate the precise number of individuals experiencing a situation of homelessness, but rather the number of people using services from homeless care centres and the characteristics of these services and of its users (among other variables). Survey on centers and services for homeless people, 2024, National Institute of Statistics (INE). Press note Survey on centers and services for homeless people, 2024. National Institute of Statistics (INE). Methodology Survey of the homeless people, 2022, National Institute of Statistics (INE). Press note Survey of homeless people, 2022. National Institute of Statistics (INE). Methodology and methodology

6.3. 2023 Pilot project for the implementation of overnight counts of homeless persons Description A nationwide count with a questionnaire for unsheltered and sheltered homeless persons was carried out for the first time in 2023. Volunteers counted people sleeping in public spaces, and certain housing centres were sampled. A common methodology was adopted by all cities/towns participating in the pilot project. Type of count generated Point-in-time Methods • Street count • Service-based method Lead authority(ies) Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda (Directorate General for Family Diversity and Social Services) Source(s) of information Volunteers and housing centres collect information from people experiencing homelessness directly. The information is then provided to the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda (Directorate General for Family Diversity and Social Services). Scope The count is conducted in municipalities with less than 100 000 inhabitants, between 100 000 and

homelessness directly. The information is then provided to the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda (Directorate General for Family Diversity and Social Services). Scope The count is conducted in municipalities with less than 100 000 inhabitants, between 100 000 and 200 000 inhabitants or more than 200 000 inhabitants. Depth of data Key demographic characteristics Frequency It is established that it will be held biannually, but due to various circumstances, the second edition is scheduled for 2026.

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 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents)

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.

This work is issued under the responsibility of the Secretar y-General of the OECD, and does not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD Member countries. This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union. This document, as well as any data and map included here in, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.6  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: SPAIN © OECD 2026

any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.6  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: SPAIN © OECD 2026

© OECD 2026

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