More and more people are homeless or without a home. We are concerned about this. On April 8, various organizations in the Amsterdam-Amstelland region will therefore work together. They will count the homeless to better understand what is needed in the fight against homelessness. After all, everyone deserves a roof over their head.

The so-called ETHOS count is carried out by municipal services, social shelter organizations, community centers, churches, housing corporations, care institutions, and enforcement officers in the Amsterdam-Amstelland region.

Mapping the Homeless and Those without a Home

Homelessness is often invisible and closer than you think. You cannot see that most people are homeless or without a home. The count makes this hidden homelessness more visible. All involved organizations fill out anonymous questionnaires in one day about people who are homeless or without a home. Because various institutions participate, a more complete picture of the actual situation emerges.

No Insight into the Full Group

This is urgently needed because the group of homeless and those without a home is changing. New groups, such as children, youth, women, labor migrants, elderly over 65, people without valid residence permits, and economically homeless individuals, are often not fully included in traditional measurements. Many homeless individuals go through various phases, from staying with friends to emergency shelters. There is no insight into the full group.

Better Monitoring Needed

Therefore, better monitoring is needed. When we have better insight into the actual size and living situation of this group of people, we can develop more effective policies to tackle homelessness. And we can improve our cooperation with the national government.

National Count

In addition to Amsterdam-Amstelland, 57 other municipalities are participating in the national count, an initiative of Utrecht University of Applied Sciences and the Kansfonds. The results of the ETHOS count will be announced on October 8, just before World Homeless Day.

Strengthening the Approach to Homelessness

Furthermore, we are working with the Strengthening the Approach to Homelessness (2023-2026) on better shelter and prevention. In addition to extra shelter places, there are preventive measures such as assistance-in-one-day, accelerated debt assistance, and experiments with short debt restructuring processes. With this approach, we aim to structurally reduce and ultimately eradicate homelessness.

Want to Know More

If you want to know more about the count, visit ETHOS count.

Photo: Kansfonds