There is no universally "best" place to be homeless, as the experience is inherently difficult and dangerous everywhere, but some locations offer stronger support systems and social safety nets.
Northern and Western European countries (notably Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway), parts of Western Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Austria), and selected Canadian cities most consistently offer the best outcomes for people experiencing homelessness, while climate and eligibility rules influence practical accessibility.
Finland is the only country in the world where there are no homeless people; the Finnish government believes that housing is not a privilege, but a fundamental right for every individual. Therefore, instead of temporary shelters or tents, homeless people are given the keys to permanent homes.
Finland has adopted a Housing First policy, whereby social services assign homeless individuals homes first, and issues like mental health and substance abuse are treated second.
The Scandinavian nation has significantly reduced the number of homeless people in recent decades thanks to both sustained political backing and long-term, housing-led initiatives that have been implemented by the government at a national scale.
In 2024, no state had enough permanent housing for everyone experiencing homelessness. Rather than addressing those needs, some elected officials are fining, jailing, and punishing people experiencing homelessness. This wastes taxpayer dollars, and it makes it harder for providers to help people exit homelessness.
By 2003, Japan had about 25,000 homeless people. Despite the country's ongoing economic challenges, the official number of homeless individuals has since plummeted, with the government reporting only 2,820 homeless people as of 2024.
Wyoming, North Dakota and Mississippi have the smallest homeless populations. At 532, 784 and 982, these are the only three states where the count of people experiencing homelessness is below 1,000.
Homelessness is highest in the northern most part and central Australia and in small pockets of our major cities • The rate of homelessness in the Northern Territory is almost 15 times the national average.
Through out the 56 days, the Council has a duty to work with you to take reasonable steps to secure accommodation. After the 56 days the Council may be satisfied that they have done everything it can to help you find accommodation.
Surviving homelessness means taking extra care to ensure your basic needs—water, food, rest, and basic hygiene—are met. This is the foundation you'll build on later. Ask around about local food banks, community fridges, or church meal programs in your area.
For Denmark, Housing First has been the guiding principle of its national homelessness strategy since 2009. The main goals of the strategy are significantly decreasing the number of citizens in homelessness and ending long-term homelessness.
The reduction in the number of homeless people is a result of national cooperation and a long-term integrated strategy for housing and support services. Responsibility for the Norwegian housing policy is split between the state, municipalities, and the private sector.
On a Single Night in 2022:
Two of every ten people experiencing homelessness in the United States did so in either Los Angeles or New York City. In Los Angeles, 84% of people either counted in unsheltered locations or in shelters were individuals. 1 The 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress.
Internet cafés and homeless
For ¥1,500 to ¥2,000 per night, homeless people have been staying in Internet cafés or capsule hotels, where they get an individual room (space) and a shower, television, soft drinks and Internet access.
Globally, approximately 1.6 billion people lack adequate housing, with 15 million more individuals being evicted on an annual basis. This situation is often profoundly worse in low- and middle-income countries like China. It is estimated that 300 million people in the country—home to 1.4 billion Chinese—are homeless.
As a result, Finland is one of the only European countries that registers decreasing homelessness numbers. The country's goal is to end homelessness in Finland all together. Finland has managed to reduce homelessness in recent years, but homelessness as a phenomenon is still alive and well.
Housing-Based Solutions
Countless peer-reviewed studies have consistently confirmed that long-term housing assistance not only successfully reduces homelessness, but it is also less expensive than shelter and other institutional and emergency care.
There should be cheaper ways to house people than simply paying the median rent, but these figures suggest that on the high end, eliminating homelessness in the United States should cost somewhere from $11 billion to $30 billion per year.
Finland's success is not a matter of luck or the outcome of “quick fixes.” Rather, it is the result of a sustained, well-resourced national strategy, driven by a “Housing First” approach, which provides people experiencing homelessness with immediate, independent, permanent housing, rather than temporary accommodation ...
In Norway, you normally have to finance housing yourself. However, if you have low income and high living expenses, you may be eligible for housing allowance under certain circumstances.
For decades, Finland has been investing in the construction, maintenance and purchase of welfare housing. In recent years, more than 8,000 apartments have been created for the homeless, with the end of homelessness being a shared goal of all governments on both the left and the right.
Homelessness and Age
The average age of adults experiencing homelessness is 45 years. The average age of unaccompanied homeless youth (aged 24 and below) is 18 years. The average age of older adults (aged 50 and above) experiencing homelessness is 66 years.