Homelessness, the homeless, and integrated social services

Although international comparisons of homelessness require cautious interpretation, OECD-wide evidence suggests that up to 8 in 1 000 working-age adults have no stable accommodation at any one time, and around 8 to 10% of families, on average, have difficulty meeting their housing costs each year. Experiences of homelessness can vary from longer term, chronic forms, to more hidden or transitional experiences. Addressing homeless individuals’ needs requires multiple – and often expensive – service interventions, especially when treating the most chronic cases. How and when the needs of the homeless are met will affect human lives and social costs. While several OECD countries are developing innovative “housing first” approaches to address homelessness, temporary shelter and emergency services remain the dominant model of provision, despite their limited capacity to facilitate sustainable exits from homelessness. This chapter addresses the challenges of measuring homelessness across OECD countries and discusses the issues salient to delivering effective housing and social services to those at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.