Homelessness more than doubled since 2009
As of 2009, the estimated number of homeless people aged 18 to 64 years rose by nearly 10 thousand to 27.3 thousand in 2012. This rising trend seemed to end in subsequent years, but the number started increasing again by more than 12 thousand between 2014 and 2018. In relative terms as well, the number more than doubled in the period 2009-2018: from 17 to 37 per 10 thousand inhabitants aged 18 to 64.
Over 8 in 10 homeless are men
Just as in previous years, the majority (84 percent) of homeless were men in 2018. Over 37 percent of all homeless people were found in the four largest municipalities (G4): Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague or Utrecht. Out of all 18 to 64-year-old homeless people, 57 percent had a migration background.
Homelessness among young people tripled
Of all homeless people in 2018, 12.6 thousand (nearly one-third) were between the ages of 18 and 30 years. This is more than three times the number in 2009. Around half were between 30 and 50 years of age. Although the share of homeless in this age group declined from 57 percent to 49 percent between 2009 and 2018, they still constituted the largest group.
| Jaar | 18 to 29 yrs (x 1,000) | 30 to 49 yrs (x 1,000) | 50 to 64 yrs (x 1,000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 4 | 10.1 | 3.7 |
| 2010 | 6.1 | 12.7 | 4.6 |
| 2011 | 6.4 | 13.2 | 4.7 |
| 2012 | 6.4 | 15 | 5.9 |
| 2013 | 7.2 | 12.8 | 4.7 |
| 2014 | 6.8 | 14.3 | 5.8 |
| 2015 | 8.3 | 16.4 | 6.2 |
| 2016 | 12.4 | 13.1 | 5 |
| 2017 | 10.8 | 18.1 | 5.6 |
| 2018 | 12.6 | 19.2 | 7.4 |
| Source: CBS, SIVZ | |||
Nearly half have a non-western background
Between 2009 and 2018, the number of homeless with a non-western migration background increased almost threefold, from 6.5 thousand to 18.3 thousand. Relative to the total number of homeless 18 to 64-year-olds, the share rose from 36 percent in 2009 to approximately half in 2016 and after. Homelessness among people with a western migration background more than doubled in this period, while it nearly doubled among those with a native Dutch background.
| Non-western background (x 1,000) | Native Dutch background (x 1,000) | Western background (x 1,000) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 6.5 | 9.6 | 1.7 |
| 2010 | 9.3 | 11.5 | 2.6 |
| 2011 | 10 | 11.6 | 2.7 |
| 2012 | 10.9 | 13.5 | 2.9 |
| 2013 | 10.6 | 11.7 | 2.5 |
| 2014 | 11 | 13.2 | 2.8 |
| 2015 | 13.2 | 15.2 | 2.5 |
| 2016 | 14.9 | 12.7 | 3 |
| 2017 | 15.7 | 15 | 3.8 |
| 2018 | 18.3 | 16.9 | 4.1 |
Non-western homeless more likely young and living in G4
On average, homeless people with a non-western background are younger: 39 percent were 18 to 29 years of age (7.1 thousand), against 27 percent of homeless with a native Dutch or western background. A relatively large proportion (more than half) of non-western homeless are found in the four largest municipalities. This was less than one-quarter of the homeless with a native Dutch background and nearly one-third of those with a western migration background.
| Non-western background (x 1,000) | Native Dutch background (x 1,000) | Western background (x 1,000) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 15.6 | 14.2 | 3.2 |
| Female | 2.8 | 2.7 | 0.8 |
| 18 to 29 yrs | 7.1 | 4.5 | 1.1 |
| 30 to 49 yrs | 8.8 | 8.5 | 1.9 |
| 50 to 64 yrs | 2.4 | 4 | 1.1 |
| Four largest municipalities | 9.4 | 3.9 | 1.3 |
| Other municipalities | 8.9 | 13 | 2.8 |