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

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

Summary of key data and information Summary of key data and information Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1) There is no official statistical definition of homelessness in Switzerland. Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3) 3 810 individuals, representing 0.04% of the total population (2021) Point-in-time count, based on the Homelessness in Switzerland Report 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) There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in Switzerland. Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) Switzerland does not have a national homelessness strategy. Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6) Homelessness in Switzerland Report: Communes completed a questionnaire on the state of homelessness in the area of the commune (Table 6.1).

Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Switzerland2  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: SWITZERLAND © OECD 2026

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness Statistical definition

Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Switzerland2  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: SWITZERLAND © OECD 2026

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness Statistical definition Homelessness There is no official statistical definition of homelessness in Switzerland. However, the following definition was used for questionnaires sent to communes for the Homelessness in Switzerland Report: Homelessness (or the threat of losing one’s home) affects people who: • live on the street, in public spaces or in the countryside • have no fixed abode and move between different shelters (e.g. emergency shelters) • live in accommodation where their stay is temporary (e.g. homeless shelters, women’s and men’s shelters, emergency shelters) • stay longer than necessary in an institution (child and youth protection facilities, prisons, clinics, etc.) because they cannot find a follow-up solution • have to stay with friends and acquaintances involuntarily • live in unsafe, unsuitable living conditions. 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 2021 3 810 0.04% Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified

2021 3 810 0.04% Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: Unknown o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: Unknown ‒ Refugees: Unknown ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Unknown Note: Data are extrapolated from a sample of municipalities. Municipalities were not explic itly asked about the inclusion of children or temporary accommodation for asylum seekers, refugees and/or victims of domestic violence. Therefore, it is unclear whether they are included in the headline estimate.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Federal Housing Office (BWO), 2022, Homelessness in Switzerland Report.

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation Data not available. Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness Legal framework Law that governs data collection on homelessness None.

Legal obligations None. 3

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

Table 5. Homelessness strategy Homelessness strategies in place National Homelessness Strategy None. Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist None. Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness 6.1. Homelessness in Switzerland Report Description Representatives from each municipality were required to fill out an online questionnaire on the extent of homelessness. Out of 2 172 municipalities, 618 took part in the survey, which corresponds to a response rate of 28%. Th e report extrapolated the total number of people experiencing homelessness in

Description Representatives from each municipality were required to fill out an online questionnaire on the extent of homelessness. Out of 2 172 municipalities, 618 took part in the survey, which corresponds to a response rate of 28%. Th e report extrapolated the total number of people experiencing homelessness in Switzerland based on the municipalities that responded to the survey. The School of Social Work Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) was contracted to perform the research.

Type of count generated Point-in-time Methods • Service-based method; • Administrative data Note: collection methods may differ across municipalities. Lead authority(ies) Federal Housing Office (BWO) Source(s) of information Representatives from each commune Scope National level Depth of data Simple enumeration Frequency Irregular 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 Publication

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population exper iencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housingdatabase.html.4  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: SWITZERLAND © OECD 2026

This work is issued under the responsibility of the Secretar y-General of the OECD, and does not necessarily reflect the

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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.

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