Venray joins national effort to uncover hidden homelessness on May 12
On May 12, Venray will take part in a nationwide count to reveal the true scale of homelessness, including those couch-surfing or facing eviction. The results will help shape better support for residents at risk. Organizations are urged to join the effort to ensure no one is overlooked.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | National ETHOS homelessness count |
| Date | May 12, 2026 |
| Organizers | Kansfonds, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Municipality of Venray |
| Goal | Map all forms of homelessness, including hidden cases |
| Target Groups | People sleeping rough, couch-surfing, facing eviction, or in crisis |
| Call to Action | Organizations can register to participate as counting organizations |
| Registration Link | Sign up here |
| Deputy Mayor | Martin Leenders |
The municipality of Venray is responsible for local social policies, including housing and homelessness prevention. By participating in the ETHOS count, it aims to gather accurate data to improve support services and address gaps in current measures.
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Read the full translated article below
Venray to map homelessness on May 12
On May 12, 2026, the municipality of Venray will participate in the national ETHOS homelessness count, organized by the Kansfonds and Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. Together with other regional municipalities, we will map in a single day how many people do not have adequate housing. The municipality is calling on organizations to register as counting organizations so that even the less visible forms of homelessness are properly included.
Why this count?
Homelessness is often less visible than people think. It is not just about residents sleeping on the streets, but also about people who are forced to stay in a campsite or holiday home, ‘couch-surfing’ with family or friends, or facing a breakup or debt crisis that causes them to lose their home. Even imminent homelessness, such as an upcoming eviction, is included in the count. Many of these situations remain invisible today, even though the group is larger and more diverse than we often realize.
A fairer and more complete picture
The ETHOS count helps municipalities and social partners provide better support and prevent homelessness at an earlier stage. By counting together, a fairer and more complete picture emerges of what is happening in Venray. A clear picture helps develop appropriate and preventive measures.
Every counter counts
Many residents in vulnerable housing situations do come into contact with social organizations, schools, sports clubs, care providers, volunteer initiatives, and neighborhood activities. In their daily interactions, they often notice first when someone has no fixed home or is at risk of losing one. The municipality cannot capture these signals alone. That is why counting organizations are indispensable: the more organizations participate, the more reliable and complete the count and results will be. Even if an organization does not register anyone on the counting day, participation is valuable. It shows that active efforts were made to identify cases and prevents groups from being overlooked.
Importance for Venray
Deputy Mayor Martin Leenders emphasizes how important the counting day is for Venray: “Homelessness sometimes seems far removed from us, but it can happen to anyone. It doesn’t matter what your age, background, or family situation is. It is precisely the invisible forms that deeply affect people because they often develop unnoticed. By counting together, we finally get a complete picture of what is happening in Venray. That picture helps us better support residents and prevent people from ending up in such a vulnerable situation. I am grateful to every organization that joins us in this effort.”
Want to help count? We’d love to have you!
Would you like to participate as a counting organization? Sign up here. After registering, organizations will receive practical instructions and support to make participation on the counting day as simple and accessible as possible.
Want to know more? Watch this short explanatory video or read more on the Kansfonds website.