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

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

Summary of key data and information Summary of key data and information Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1) In Romania, people experiencing homelessness are defined as: single persons or families who, for single or cumulative reasons of social, medical, financial, legal or legal order due to force majeure situations, live in the street, temporarily live with friends or acquaintances, are unable to support a home on a rental basis or are at risk of evacuation, are in institutions or penitentiaries where they are to be discharged within 2 months, respectively issued and have no domicile or residence. Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3) 15 343 individuals, representing 0.081% of the total population (2024) Flow count, based on Reports from Local Authorities Point-in-time count, based on the Australian Census of Population and Housing 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 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) • 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) Romania uses the Commission Regulation (EC) n. 1201/2009 of 30 November 2009 as a legal basis for the collection

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) Romania uses the Commission Regulation (EC) n. 1201/2009 of 30 November 2009 as a legal basis for the collection of homelessness data in the census. Also, administrative data on homeless people is collected based on Social Assistance Law no. 292/2011. Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) National Homelessness Strategy: National Strategy on the Social Inclusion of the Homeless for the period 2022 - 2027 Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategies addressing homelessness: National Strategy on Housing – 2022 – 2050 (approved by GD no.842/2022) and National Strategy for Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction – 2022-2027 (approved by GD no.440/2022) Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6) • Report from social services providers: Social services providers annually report data regarding the activity of social services to the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity (Table 6.1). • Report from Local Authorities: Local authorities report service usage data to the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity (Table 6.2). • Population and Housing Census: Enumerators conduct face-to-face interviews with people experiencing homelessness (Table 6.3).

Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Romania2  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: ROMANIA © OECD 2026

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness Statistical definition Homelessness In Romania, the definition of homelessness, provided in Law no. 292/2011, with subsequent amendments, covers all categories of ETHOS Light, except for people living in unconventional housing due to lack of housing, which are not explicitly defined as homeless people, although they could be covered by the wide category of those incapable of paying rent. The definition used in

of ETHOS Light, except for people living in unconventional housing due to lack of housing, which are not explicitly defined as homeless people, although they could be covered by the wide category of those incapable of paying rent. The definition used in the Romanian legislation explicitly includes: people living in miserable conditions (operational category 1 ETHOS Light), people in emergency shelters and people in centres for the homeless (categories 2 and 3 ETHOS Light), people from institutions / prisons (category 4 ETHOS Light), people who temporarily live in conventional housing with family or friends (category 6 ETHOS Light). People in unconventional housing (category 5 ETHOS Light), not covered by the existing definition in the Romanian legislation, but the persons who cannot bear the costs of rent or who are exposed to the risk of eviction are defined by law as homeless people. According to Law No. 292/2011, with subsequent amendments, republished, homeless people are defined as “a social category made up of single persons or families who, for singular or cumulative reasons of social, medical, financial-economic, legal nature or due to force majeure situations, live in the street, temporarily live with friends or acquaintances, are unable to support a dwelling under rental regime or are at risk of eviction, are in institutions or penitentiaries from where they are to be discharged within 2 months, respectively be liberated and they have no dwelling. The target group which is taken into consideration by the National Strategy for the Social Inclusion of the Homeless for the period 2022-2027 refers to, in line with the ETHOS LIGHT taxonomy: 1. people living in miserable conditions 2. people in emergency shelters 3. people in centres for homeless people in different institutions 4. people living in non-conventional housing due to lack of housing 5. homeless people who temporarily live in conventional dwellings belonging to family members or friends due to the lack of their own housing. National Institute of Statistics: The 2011 Population and Housing Census measured the number of homeless people according to the definition included in the Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1201/2009 of 30 November 2009 implementing Regulation

the lack of their own housing. National Institute of Statistics: The 2011 Population and Housing Census measured the number of homeless people according to the definition included in the Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1201/2009 of 30 November 2009 implementing Regulation (EC) No. 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on population and housing censuses as regards the technical specifications of the topics and of their breakdowns: “Primary homeless persons” are persons living in the streets without a shelter that would fall within the scope of living quarters as defined in the technical specifications for the topic “Type of living quarters”. 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 2011 1 524 0.008% NA NA NA NA NA NA 2022 8 436 0.038% Not included Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Not included Not included Not included 2024 15 343 0.081% Not included Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Not included Not included Not included Metadata: • Type of count: Flow • Data are comparable across years: No

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: Yes o Temporary accommodation for:

but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Not included Not included Not included Metadata: • Type of count: Flow • Data are comparable across years: No

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: Yes o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: Yes ‒ Refugees: Yes ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable Housing (QuASH); Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity (2024), Reports from Local Authorities; Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity (2024), Reports from social services providers. 3

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

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 18-35) Older people (aged 65 and over) Families with children (# of households) Headline estimate of homelessness NA NA NA 529 1 003 NA As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness NA NA NA 3.45% 6.54% NA ETHOS Light 1: People living rough NA NA NA Not included Not included NA ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation NA NA NA Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified NA ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless NA NA NA Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified NA ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions NA NA NA Not included Not included NA ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings NA NA NA Not included Not included NA

estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified NA ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions NA NA NA Not included Not included NA ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings NA NA NA Not included Not included NA ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends NA NA NA Not included Not included NA Metadata: • Type of count: Flow

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: No 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); Data source for the elderly (2024) – reports of local authorities to the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity; Data source for the youth (2024) – reports of social services for the youth (Residential transit centres for young people in difficulty and Multifunctional centres for young people in difficulty) to the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity. Data reported to the MoLFYSS are not disaggregated by gender, type of household/family.

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness Legal framework Law that governs data collection on homelessness Commission Regulation (EC) no 1201/2009 of 30 November 2009 implementing Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on population and housing censuses as regards the technical specifications of the topics and of their breakdowns Legal obligations Romania uses the Commission Regulation as a basis for homelessness data collection in the Census. Other data collection methods are not covered by this legal document. Administrative data on homeless people are collected based on Social Assistance Law no. 292/2011. Table 5. Homelessness strategy Homelessness strategies in place National Homelessness Strategy National Homelessness Strategy: National Strategy on the Social Inclusion of the Homeless for the period 2022 - 2027

people are collected based on Social Assistance Law no. 292/2011. Table 5. Homelessness strategy Homelessness strategies in place National Homelessness Strategy National Homelessness Strategy: National Strategy on the Social Inclusion of the Homeless for the period 2022 - 2027 • Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategies addressing homelessness: National Strategy on Housing – 2022 – 2050 (approved by GD no.842/2022)4  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: ROMANIA © OECD 2026

National Strategy for Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction – 2022-2027 (approved by GD no.440/2022) Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist No. Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness 6.1. Report from social services providers Description The Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity collects yearly data on social services activity, according to the Law no.292/2011, based on social services providers’ reports. The social services providers report to the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity the number of unique beneficiaries, according to their own records. A number of 194 residential social services for homeless people (including street children ) reported 11 552 beneficiaries for 2024. • Night shelters for street children: 502 • Night shelters for homeless persons: 3 667 • Residential assistance and protection centres for victims of human trafficking: 26 • Emergency admission centres for children: 3 600 • Emergency shelters for victims of domestic violence:1082 • Residential Assistance and Reintegration/Social Reintegration Centres for the Homeless: 1999 • Residential transit centres for young people in difficulty: 185 • Multifunctional centres for young people in difficulty: 344 • Regional Centres for Procedures and Accommodation of Asylum Seekers and Those Granted a Form of Protection in Romania: 147

Type of count generated Flow (period) Methods Service-based method Lead authority(ies)

• Multifunctional centres for young people in difficulty: 344 • Regional Centres for Procedures and Accommodation of Asylum Seekers and Those Granted a Form of Protection in Romania: 147

Type of count generated Flow (period) Methods Service-based method Lead authority(ies) Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity Source(s) of information Social services providers report data to the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity. Scope National level Depth of data Enumeration Frequency Annual ETHOS Light groups included: • 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 collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Notes and sources Reports on social inclusion (mmuncii.ro)

6.2. Report from Local Authorities Description A number of 290 local authorities reported to the Ministry of La bour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity 6 510 people experiencing homelessness in 2024, according to their own records or those of social services for people experiencing homelessness or police authorities. Type of count generated Flow (period) Methods Service-based method Lead authority(ies) Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity Source(s) of information Local authorities report data to the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity. Scope National level Depth of data Enumeration 5

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

Frequency Annual ETHOS Light groups included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters)

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

Frequency Annual

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 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) • 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 chestionar-martor_RPL2021_engleza.pdf (recensamantromania.ro)

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.6  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: ROMANIA © OECD 2026

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