Determining exact figures on homelessness and housing insecurity poses a challenge due to the diverse nature of their various forms. As the ISR’s ‘Feasibility study: Database on homelessness and precarious housing’ has demonstrated, many different data-sources exist. However, these currently provide only a fragmented picture of the actual situation. The most comprehensive survey of the various manifestations of homelessness can be achieved with the ‘extended service-based count’ methodology, where data on people experiencing homelessness is generated in a wide network of social service institutions employing a standardized questionnaire. Depending on the scope of the network and the type of participating institutions, this method can achieve a comprehensive picture of the extent and profile of homelessness. In Austria counts based on this model are already conducted in the provinces of Salzburg and Vorarlberg. However, these do not currently use the standardized, internationally recognized ETHOS Light typology.
In the rest of Austria, systematic counts have been conducted only sporadically and were mostly limited to local problem areas and distinct survey contexts. At the EU level, a wide variety of definitions, methods, and research tools were used - mostly limited to different countries, cities or regions - which made comparisons between EU member states difficult.
As part of the EU Homelessness Counts, organized by KU Leuven, homelessness counts were conducted in 35 cities across the EU in 2025. These counts have generated comprehensive figures on homelessness, based on the ETHOS Light typology as a uniform definition, using a standardized methodology, and providing a comparable database across the EU. The Institute for Urban and Regional Research serves as research partner for the cities of Innsbruck and Salzburg. The counts took place in October across a broad network of service organizations for people experiencing homelessness and other public institutions. The following research questions were addressed in the scope of the study:
As part of the EU Homelessness Counts project, the ISR is a member of an international network of researchers and plays a key role in designing and implementing the survey in the individual cities. This includes designing and operationalizing the counts (including street surveys), processing and analyzing the data, and reporting to the organizers at KU Leuven. In collaboration with the network of social services in Salzburg and Innsbruck local expertise has been developed regarding the continuation and institutionalization of data collection.
Data on people experiencing homelessness in Salzburg and Innsbruck were collected using a standardized questionnaire distributed across a vast network of service organizations and selected public institutions. The data was verified, cleaned, and analyzed at the ISR before data pooling by KU Leuven at the EU level. Following data processing and reporting at the EU level, the ISR reports on the implementation of the counts as well as on the current situation in participating cities. The project contributes to the creation of a united database on homelessness in the EU. In addition, the findings of the ‘Feasibility study: Database on homelessness and precarious housing’ were realized in a project that expands the knowledge base in the participating cities. Results of the project at the European scale will be available on the KU Leuven project website in June 2026.
Schnell, Philipp (2026): European Homelessness Counts 2025 – City Report Innsbruck. KU Leuven, Leuven. https://www.kuleuven.be/lucas/en/images/innsbruck-final.pdf
Schnell, Philipp (2026): European Homelessness Counts 2025 – City Report Salzburg. KU Leuven, Leuven. https://www.kuleuven.be/lucas/en/images/salzburg-final.pdf
1.1.2025 - 31.12.2025
This project is funded by the EU-Commission Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (EMPL) finanziert.
