Page 65 - IJPS-9-1

International Journal of
Population Studies Düsseldorfer Model for counting homeless people

Germany will be soon provided with the statistics for the (FEANTSA, 2017). ETHOS differentiates four main
first time in the near future (BMAS, 2022). categories of living situations: rooflessness, houselessness,
Since the previous estimates of homeless persons in insecure housing, and inadequate housing. The definition
Germany are subject to major uncertainties, estimates has been adopted for this research and is based on that
are based on the observation of changes in immigration, same broad understanding of homelessness. In this
the housing and labor markets, and social welfare needs, research, houseless is used to refer to people who do not
as well as the local surveys of states and municipalities have their own home but who have a place to stay and
(Jordan, 2018), only limited statements on homelessness thus a shelter (e.g., with acquaintances or in emergency
in Germany have been possible up to this point. In 2020, shelters). By contrast, rough sleepers, representing
the total annual number of homeless people in Germany rooflessness, are individuals who (have to) spend their lives
excluding recognized refugees was estimated to be “outside” and who “make a living” (FEANTSA, 2017). That
256,000 and with recognized refugees to be 417,000 (BAG criticism of ethics regarding the definition of the target
Wohnungslosenhilfe, 2021). In comparison to previous group is accompanied by a criticism of power, because it is
years’ numbers, the estimates in recent few years are neither made clear who defines which group of people to
increasing (BAG Wohnungslosenhilfe, 2019; 2021). be counted and for what reasons nor whether the people
counted have any control over their categorization, in other
Nevertheless, the subgroup of “homeless people,” that words, “about whether someone should be categorized,
is, those who are affected by houselessness but who are not or tagged, as “homeless” by research, or administrative
institutionally housed, is not counted in regular surveys, process, over which they cannot exercise any control”
and is thus often not taken into account statistically. To (Hermans & Pleace, 2020, p. 47). Thus, despite various
capture this gap, various surveys are currently being criticisms of common counting practices, the numbers
conducted in a few cities at the municipal level, with the clearly have a relevant function for lobbying (Hermans &
first citywide count in Berlin in 2020 being a case in point Pleace, 2020) as well as for political decisions and public
(Senatsverwaltung für Integration, Arbeit und Soziales administration. Often, using the numbers is the only
Berlin, 2020). However, in those surveys, various methods sufficient way in which economic resources can be made
(e.g., on-the-street censuses, questionnaire surveys in available to offer support. The numbers provide the basis
relevant drop-in centers for people who are homeless, data for preventive concepts as well.
analysis by professionals at day centers and teams of street In the city of Düsseldorf, the Düsseldorfer Model was
workers, and food banks) are used in an attempt to record developed with actors of the homeless support system to
the number of homeless people (Busch-Geertsema, 2019; perform the first full, citywide count of homeless individuals
Hermans & Pleace, 2020).
on October 28, 2021 (van Rießen et al., 2021). Although
Another particularly difficult challenge in counting a biennial night count had been conducted by municipal
homeless people in Germany arises due to the definition of order since 1994, it was only based on quantitative data
people who are counted. The experience of other European in specific parts of the city (Plitt, 2021). The full citywide
counts reveal that in Ireland, for example, “rough sleepers” count was further developed in 2019 on behalf of the
are counted as people who “were either already asleep or Department for Migration and Integration and a working
had lain down to sleep on the street, in public places, or group of actors in the field. The Association for Research
in dwellings not intended for human habitation on [the] and Practice Transfer in Social and Cultural Work was also
key date night” (Busch-Geertsema, 2019, p. 39), while assigned to provide scientific support and assistance in
people “about to be bedded down” for instance, sitting on conducting a study that addresses two questions: (i) How
a sleeping bag or bench, have additionally been counted many people are homeless in Düsseldorf on the selected
in the United Kingdom since 2010 (Busch-Geertsema, key date? How can they be counted? (ii) In which living
2019). The treatment of individuals who spend the night in situations do homeless people live in Düsseldorf?
emergency shelters is not uniform either. They often do not Taken together, we aim to investigate these questions
belong to the so-called people living on the street. in this article. The following sections of this article first
Even though homelessness is not only perceived but present an empirical approach of collecting data, which
also addressed differently in every country, the European is based on the establishment of a coordination group
Federation of National Organizations Working with the that represents homeless support institutions and actors
Homeless, commonly known as “FEANTSA,” developed a in Düsseldorf. Within the framework of the group, the
European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion principles and research design were developed, which are
(ETHOS) in 2005 to offer a comprehensive framework for herein described along with the major results of the count
data collection, policymaking, and monitoring purposes and a brief summary of the qualitative study. The article

Volume 9 Issue 1 (2023) 59 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.397