Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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The paper highlights that despite growing attention to the issue, serious gaps remain in the availability of reliable data, legislative protection and sustainable housing solutions.
A global problem with systemic roots
Homelessness is a universal problem, closely linked to poverty, social inequality, lack of access to health care and social protection. At the same time, as the report notes, the world is still dominated by the misconception that homelessness is a consequence of individual failure rather than systemic failures. Such prejudices make it difficult for the public to support assistance programs and adopt long-term solutions.
The report acknowledges the diversity of manifestations and lived realities of homelessness across regions and contexts. According to the Global Homelessness Institute, 78 countries have official government reporting, but only 24 collect data beyond those sleeping rough. This limits understanding of the scale and diversity of homelessness.
Homelessness cannot be fully understood if it is viewed only as a physical loss of shelter, the report's authors note. The experience also entails a loss of security, stability and social connections, which many homeless people see as the main problem with their situation.
Examples of good practice include a national homeless census in Chile in collaboration with civil society, covering 185 municipalities, and an improved methodology in Latvia with an emphasis on better reflecting the diversity of life situations. In Colombia, regional street censuses every five years help the state formulate targeted social policies. The UN also stresses the importance of involving people with homelessness themselves in the data collection process.
Criminalization and stigmatization
One of the most pressing issues remains the criminalization of homelessness. The UK has announced that it will repeal the 200-year-old Vagrancy Act, a major step forward. However, a number of countries still have laws punishing sleeping outdoors or being in public places. Experts say such measures perpetuate cycles of poverty and isolation.
The UN is calling on governments to tackle not just legal restrictions but also social prejudices. National programmes such as India’s Housing for All initiative recognise the contribution of homeless people to urban economies and help reduce stigma.
From emergency measures to long-term strategies
The report highlights that emergency shelters are necessary, but they do not offer a long-term sustainable solution. Countries that have integrated housing and social protection policies have achieved better results. In Canada, for example, the Finding a Home strategy has enabled support and resource redistribution at the community level, while in Vietnam, housing programs are combined with educational and entrepreneurial opportunities for vulnerable groups.
Successful examples include the Solibay programme in France and Provivienda in Spain, which through NGOs and other actors mobilise private housing for those in need. In Barcelona, housing is also provided in combination with health and social services.
In Mongolia, the Road Home programme aims to implement preventive and early intervention measures to prevent chronic homelessness, involving the Ulaanbaatar mayor's office, governor's office and social welfare department, police, city and district level labor authorities, as well as educational institutions, health care organizations, the private sector and NGOs.
Vulnerable groups: women, elderly and minorities
The report pays special attention to vulnerable groups. The causes and experiences of homelessness are determined not only by economic pressures, but also by forms of structural inequality and exclusion, the authors emphasize. For example, women face the risk of eviction due to discriminatory inheritance rules and limited access to property rights. Older people, especially women and minorities, are at risk due to rising prices and low incomes. Young people, including the LGBTIQ community, are often left out of housing policies and face a shortage of specialized shelters and support programs. A serious gap is the lack of organized housing and support for young people leaving state care.
People with disabilities, including psychosocial disabilities, are particularly vulnerable to long-term exclusion and often face barriers in confirming their entitlement to housing assistance and interacting with institutions. The report also identifies indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities, migrants, internally displaced persons and stateless persons, as well as people employed in the informal sector and without social protection as vulnerable groups.
Recommendations of the Secretary-General
The UN Secretary-General calls in his report:
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