hjemløshed

Hjemløshed is the condition of lacking a stable, safe, and adequate residence. It encompasses people who sleep rough on streets, those staying in emergency shelters or transitional housing, and others who have no guaranteed place to sleep at night. The term is used in Danish and other Nordic contexts to describe housing insecurity and the absence of a fixed dwelling.

Causes are multifactorial, combining structural factors such as insufficient affordable housing, rising rents, poverty, unemployment, and gaps in social welfare, with personal factors including mental health challenges, substance use, family conflict, domestic violence, and adverse childhood experiences.

Homelessness has wide-ranging health and safety impacts. People experiencing it may face exposure to weather, hunger, and violence, as well as barriers to healthcare, education, and employment. Stigma and policy gaps can hinder access to services and pathways out of homelessness.

Policy responses vary but commonly include prevention strategies (eviction prevention, rent supports), emergency shelters, and longer-term housing solutions. An increasing emphasis on Housing First places permanent housing before other services, pairing it with case management, health care, and substance-use treatment to stabilize individuals.

Measuring homelessness relies on counts and definitions that differ by jurisdiction, making international comparisons challenging. Data collection, research, and coordinated social policy are essential to track trends and evaluate interventions.