Rising trend in homelessness appears to have come to an end

Statistics Netherlands announced today that the rising trend in homelessness appears to have come to an end. Between early 2010 and early 2012, the number of homeless people still grew from 23 to 27 thousand. On 1 January 2013, an estimated 25 thousand people in the Netherlands were homeless.

No increase for the first time in three years

In 2013, an estimated 25 thousand people in the Netherlands were homeless. These people have no fixed addresses, sleep rough on the streets, in homeless shelters or in public buildings. People without fixed addresses who are staying with relatives or friends are also defined as being homeless. During the recession, the number of homeless people grew. Now that the economy is improving, the rising trend in homelessness also appears to have come to an end.

Homeless women relatively young

Most homeless people are men, one in five are women. Just as in previous years, homeless women are relatively young, i.e. 38 percent are aged between 18 and 30 years, versus 27 percent of men in the same age group. With 45 percent, homeless women more often live in one of the four major cities in the Netherlands than their male counterparts (38 percent).

Most homeless concentrated in the four major cities

Homeless are predominantly found in the major cities: nearly 40 percent are living in Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague or Rotterdam. The share of young homeless is a bit lower in the major cities than in less urbanised areas. In the major cities, one-quarter of homeless are in the age category 18-30, three-quarters are older. Outside the major cities, one in three homeless are young.