History of Homelessness in Timeline

Homelessness is the state of lacking stable, safe, and adequate housing, with definitions varying globally. It encompasses individuals living on the streets, lacking permanent housing, or moving between temporary shelters like friends' houses, family homes, hotels, and emergency accommodations. The absence of a fixed, secure residence defines this condition, highlighting the instability and lack of safety experienced by homeless individuals. Addressing homelessness requires understanding its diverse forms and the absence of a consistent definition across different countries.

1903: Homelessness in Literature

In 1903, How the Other Half Lives and Jack London's The People of the Abyss raised public awareness about homelessness and social conditions, resulting in some changes in building codes.

1933: New Deal

After Franklin D. Roosevelt took over the presidency from Herbert Hoover in 1933, he oversaw the passage of the New Deal, which greatly expanded social welfare, including providing funds to build public housing.

1933: George Orwell on Poverty in Europe

In 1933, George Orwell wrote about poverty in London and Paris in his book Down and Out in Paris and London.

December 1948: Universal Declaration of Human Rights

In December 1948, Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly, addressing housing and quality of living standards.

1973: National affordable housing program

In Canada, in the 1990s cuts continued and in some cases accelerated, including cuts to the 1973 national affordable housing program.

1987: International Year of Shelter for the Homeless

By 1987, when the United Nations established the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless (IYSH), homelessness had become a serious social problem in Canada. The report of the major 1987 IYSH conference held in Ottawa said that housing was not a high priority for government, and this was a significant contributor to the homelessness problem.

1988: Homeless people in San Juan

Data indicates that in 1988 the number of homeless people in the municipality was 368 in San Juan.

1988: Housing Act 1988 (Ireland)

In 1988, the Housing Act of 1988 in the Republic of Ireland mandated local authorities to assess and assist homeless individuals, including providing accommodation or financial support. There is no explicit legal entitlement to housing. Local authorities offer housing to adults unable to afford it, and Tusla cares for homeless children.

1988: Increase of homelessness shelters in Toronto

In the larger metropolitan areas like Toronto the use of homeless shelters increased by 75% from 1988 to 1998.

1991: Increase in homelessness following Soviet immigration

In 1991, homelessness increased in Israel following the wave of Soviet immigration. Many Russian immigrants lost their jobs during the recession and lacked a strong family support system.

1998: Increase of homelessness shelters in Toronto

In the larger metropolitan areas like Toronto the use of homeless shelters increased by 75% from 1988 to 1998.

1999: Study reports higher death rates for homeless individuals

In 1999, Dr. Susan Barrow of the Columbia University Center for Homelessness Prevention Studies reported that the age-adjusted death rates of homeless men and women were four times those of the general U.S. population and two to three times those of the general population of New York City.

1999: Ministry of Civil Affairs estimates number of abandoned children

In 1999, the Ministry of Civil Affairs estimated the number of abandoned children in welfare homes in China to be 66,000.

1999: Athens Earthquake

The 1999 Athens earthquake in Greece caused homelessness among many middle-class people, some of whom lived in containers provided by the government, with their car being their only surviving property.

2000: Forced evictions in Indonesia

Between 2000 and 2005, over 92,000 people were forcefully evicted from their homes in Indonesia, causing homelessness.

2000: Yunnan earthquake leads to homelessness

In 2000, the Yunnan earthquake in China left 92,479 people homeless and destroyed over 41,000 homes.

2001: Scottish Parliament's Plan to Eradicate Homelessness

In 2001, the Scottish Parliament agreed on a ten-year plan to eradicate homelessness by the end of 2012, with regular progress checks and legislative changes.

2002: Growth of Homeless Families

In 2002, research revealed that children and families were the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population in the United States, presenting new challenges to agencies.

2003: India's wealth ranking

In 2003, India ranked as the 124th wealthiest country in the world. More than 90 million people in India make less than US$1 per day.

2003: Peak in Homeless Households in England

In 2003, the annual number of homeless households in England peaked at 135,420.

2004: Gender Disparities and Homelessness

In 2004, it was found that street-based homelessness dominates mainstream understanding of homelessness, an environment in which males have far greater power.

2004: Percentage of homeless girls in 2004

In 2004, more than 15 percent of all homeless youth were girls.

2004: UN Definition of Homelessness

In 2004, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs defined a homeless household as one lacking adequate shelter due to insufficient income, carrying their possessions and sleeping in random spaces.

2005: US Federal Survey on Homelessness and Mental Health

A United States federal survey in 2005 indicated that at least one-third of homeless men and women had serious psychiatric disorders or problems.

2005: Peak in Applications in Scotland

Around 2005, there was a peak in applications for homelessness assistance in Scotland, after which figures generally decreased for the next eight years.

2005: Forced evictions in Indonesia

Between 2000 and 2005, over 92,000 people were forcefully evicted from their homes in Indonesia, causing homelessness.

2005: Hurricane Katrina affects marginalized populations

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina, a category-5 hurricane, made landfall in Florida and Louisiana. The hurricane disproportionately affected marginalized individuals, and individuals with lower socioeconomic status, especially in New Orleans and the surrounding areas.

2005: Launch of the ETHOS Typology

In 2005, the ETHOS Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion was launched in Europe to improve understanding and measurement of homelessness, providing a common framework for transnational exchanges.

2007: Study finds increasing violent crimes against homeless people

In 2007, a study found that the rate of violent crimes against homeless people in the United States is increasing. Homelessness is also associated with domestic violence.

2007: Rough Sleepers in England

In 2007, official figures for England showed an average of 498 people slept rough each night, with 248 of those in London.

2007: Rise in number of homeless youth

In 2007, the number of homeless youth in Israel was on the rise. More than 25 percent of all homeless youth were girls, compared to 15 percent in 2004. Elem provided programs or temporary shelter to roughly 32,000 youths in some 30 locations countrywide.

2008: Release of Slumdog Millionaire

After the release of the feature film "Slumdog Millionaire" in 2008, Mumbai became a slum tourist destination for slumming where homeless people and slum dwellers alike could be openly viewed by tourists.

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2008: McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants

In 2008, the United States Congress allocated $25 million in McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants to demonstrate the effectiveness of Rapid Re-housing programs in reducing family homelessness.

February 2009: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

In February 2009, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, allocating $1.5 billion for a Homeless Prevention Fund and reallocating funds to the Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) program.

2009: 'Coming in from the Cold' strategy Published

From 2009 onwards, the incoming Labour administration supported the Rough Sleeper Initiative, publishing the 'Coming in from the Cold' strategy which proposed and delivered a massive increase in the number of hostel bed spaces in the capital and an increase in funding for street outreach teams.

2009: Homeless children in the United States

In 2009 it was estimated that one out of 50 children or 1.5 million children in the United States would experience some form of homelessness each year.

2009: Law amendment protects mortgage debtors in Israel

In 2009, a law amendment was passed in Israel to protect the rights of mortgage debtors and ensure they are not evicted after failing to meet mortgage payments. The amendment is part of a wider reform in the law in the wake of a lengthy battle by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and other human rights groups.

2009: UN Economic Commission for Europe Conference on Homelessness Definition

In 2009, at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Conference of European Statisticians (CES), the Group of Experts on Population and Housing Censuses defined homelessness.

2009: Tenant Evictions due to Foreclosures

In 2009, it was reported that foreclosures on landlords often lead to the eviction of their tenants, with estimates suggesting that more than 311,000 tenants nationwide had been evicted from homes after lenders took over the properties.

2009: Low in Homeless Households in England

In 2009, the annual number of homeless households in England fell to a low of 40,020.

2009: Homeless population in New York City

In 2009, there were over 36,000 homeless people in New York City.

September 2010: Housing First Initiative reduces chronic homelessness

In September 2010, it was reported that the Housing First Initiative had significantly reduced the chronic homeless single-person population in Boston, Massachusetts, although homeless families were still increasing in number.

2010: Rising Homelessness in England

Homelessness in England has been rising since 2010.

2010: Increase of children in temporary accomodation in the UK

In 2010, the UK had 69,050 children in temporary accomodation.

2011: Homeless population in India

According to the 2011 census, there were 1.77 million homeless people in India, which is 0.15 percent of the country's total population. However, other organizations counted different numbers in Delhi. There are 18 million street children in India.

2011: Housing shortage in India

As of the 2011 census, there was a shortage of 18.78 million houses in India. The total number of houses has increased from 52.06 million to 78.48 million.

2011: Community health centers serve homeless individuals

In 2011, UDS data showed that community health centers provided services to 1,087,431 homeless individuals in the United States. These centers, along with nonprofit and religious organizations, play a crucial role in meeting the healthcare needs of the homeless population.

2011: Report highlights lower life expectancy for homeless people in the U.K.

In 2011, a report commissioned by the homeless charity Crisis found that, on average, homeless people in the U.K. have a life expectancy of 47 years, which is 30 years younger than the rest of the population.

2011: Study on elderly homeless population

In 2011, a study led by Dr. Rebecca T. Brown in Boston, found that the elderly homeless population had higher rates of geriatric syndromes, including functional decline, falls, frailty, and depression, than seniors in the general population. These conditions could be easily treated if detected.

2011: Corruption and Theft at Boston Public Shelter

In 2011, an investigative report by FOX 25 TV in Boston revealed that several Boston public shelter employees were stealing large amounts of food from the shelter's kitchen for their private use and catering over time.

2011: Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veterans Families Initiative, SSVF

In 2011, the Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veterans Families Initiative, SSVF, began funding private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives to provide supportive services to very low-income veteran families living in or transitioning to permanent housing.

2011: Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS)

In Action Plan 2011, the Federal Government of Canada proposed $120 million annually from April 2014 until April 2019—with $70 million in new funding—to renew its Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) with a focus on the Housing First model.

2012: Streetlink Established

In 2012, Streetlink, a national service, was established to help the public provide near-immediate assistance for rough sleepers. Supported by the Government, the service currently extends only to England due to housing being a devolved matter.

2012: Estimated number of homeless children in China

In 2012, one publication estimated that there were one million homeless children in China.

2012: Target End Date of Ten-Year Plan to Eradicate Homelessness

In 2012, the Scottish Parliament's ten-year plan to eradicate homelessness ended.

2013: Central Florida Commission on Homelessness study

In 2013, a study by the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness revealed that the region spends $31,000 annually per homeless individual, primarily on law enforcement, jail stays, and emergency medical care. The study contrasted this with the $10,051 cost of permanent supportive housing per person per year, concluding that housing half of the chronically homeless could save taxpayers $149 million over ten years. This study tracked 107 long-term homeless residents in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties.

April 2014: Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) funding

From April 2014, the Federal Government of Canada proposed $120 million annually until April 2019—with $70 million in new funding—to renew its Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) with a focus on the Housing First model.

2014: Anti-homeless architecture comes to light

In 2014, a photo of hostile architecture, specifically spikes on the floor in London, went viral on social media, highlighting the issue of anti-homeless architecture designed to discourage the use of public spaces by homeless individuals.

2014: China's resources for homeless people

In 2014, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China had approximately 2,000 shelters and 20,000 social workers to aid approximately three million homeless people.

2014: Homeless in fallout shelters

In 2014, authorities in Switzerland reportedly began allowing homeless people to sleep in fallout shelters built during the Cold War.

2014: Estimated number of homeless individuals in Israel

In 2014, the number of homeless individuals in Israel was estimated at 1,831, about 600 of whom were living on the streets of Tel Aviv.

July 2015: Welfare Ministry estimation of homeless people

In July 2015, the Welfare Ministry estimated the number of homeless people in Israel to be between 800 and 900, including 450 receiving services and treatment from their municipalities but continuing to live on the streets.

December 2015: Welfare Ministry study on homelessness

In December 2015, a large study by the Welfare Ministry found that 2,300 people in Israel were homeless.

2015: Homelessness in the United States

In 2015, the United States reported that there were 564,708 homeless people within its borders, one of the higher reported figures worldwide.

2016: Doubling of rough sleepers in England

By 2016, it was estimated that the number of people sleeping rough in England had more than doubled since 2010.

2016: Homelessness Reduction Bill 2016-17

The Homelessness Reduction Bill 2016-17 places a new duty on local authorities in England to assist people threatened with homelessness within 56 days.

January 2017: Homeless Persons in Puerto Rico

According to the count by the Puerto Rico Department of Family, in January 2017 there were 3,501 homeless persons in the territory.

2017: Homelessness Reduction Act

Before the 2017 Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA), homeless households were defined and measured as those who were owed a 'main homelessness duty' by local authorities.

2017: Homeless people in San Juan

Data indicates that in 2017 there were about 877 persons without a home in San Juan.

2017: Guangdong Province assists homeless people

From 2017 to 2019, the government of Guangdong Province assisted 5,388 homeless people in reuniting with relatives elsewhere in China. In 2017, the Guangdong government assisted more than 150,000 people over three years.

2017: Jimmy Carter on Housing as a Human Right

In 2017, Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter stated in an interview that housing is a human right, contrasting with the view of many Americans.

2017: Increase in rough sleepers in England

In 2017, an estimated 4,751 people bedded down outside overnight in England, up 15 percent over the previous year. Shelter calculated 254,514 people in England were homeless using 2016 statistics.

2017: Government crackdown on illegal housing in Beijing

In 2017, the Chinese government responded to a deadly fire in a crowded building in Beijing by cracking down on dense illegal shared accommodations and evicting the residents, leaving many migrant laborers homeless.

2017: Homeless Households in England

In 2017, there were 56,600 homeless households in England, which was 60 percent below the 2003 peak, and 40 percent higher than the 2009 low.

2017: Framework to Ensure Suitable Housing in Scotland

Starting in 2017, work began to address the needs of people with higher levels of need caught in the homelessness system, with a framework put in place to work towards a day where everyone in Scotland has a home suitable to meet their needs.

April 2018: Homelessness Reduction Act implementation

From April 2018, the Homelessness Reduction Bill 2016-17 placed a new duty on local authorities in England to assess, prevent, and relieve homelessness for all eligible applicants, including single homeless people.

2018: Men disproportionately affected by homelessness

In 2018, men accounted for 70% of all individuals experiencing homelessness in the United States, and as high as 82% in Louisiana and Puerto Rico.

February 2019: Los Angeles competition for homeless housing

In February 2019, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the top five winners of a competition in Los Angeles soliciting innovative and efficient housing solutions for the city's homeless population using bond money. Winning concepts included assembly-ready polymer panels, prefabricated stack-able houses, privately financed modular buildings, converting residential garages into homeless rentals, and redeveloping Bungalow-court units.

April 2019: End of Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) funding

Until April 2019, the Federal Government of Canada proposed $120 million annually from April 2014—with $70 million in new funding—to renew its Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) with a focus on the Housing First model.

2019: Guangdong Province assists homeless people

From 2017 to 2019, the government of Guangdong Province assisted 5,388 homeless people in reuniting with relatives elsewhere in China. In 2019, the Guangdong government assisted more than 150,000 people over three years.

2019: Households owed prevention or relief duties

In 2019, 288,470 households were owed the new prevention or relief duties, which is four times the number of households owed the 'main duty' in 2017-18 before implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act.

2019: San Francisco Rent Control Study

In 2019, a study found that San Francisco's rent control laws reduced tenant displacement in the short-term but led to landlords removing thirty percent of rent-controlled units from the rental market, resulting in a fifteen percent citywide decrease in total rental units and a seven percent increase in citywide rents.

2019: Westlake homeless housing building

In 2019, in Westlake, Los Angeles, the city funded the first transitionally homeless housing building using "Cargotecture," which involves constructing architecture from repurposed shipping containers. The Hope on Alvarado micro-apartment building will be constructed from 84 shipping containers.

2019: College student homelessness

In 2019, scholar Sara Goldrick-Rab said that her study on college student homelessness found that nearly one in ten college students said they were homeless in the last year, meaning they had at least one night where they did not know where they were going to sleep.

2019: Number of migrant workers in China

In 2019, the number of migrant workers in China reached 290.77 million. These workers often face precarious living conditions and are at risk of displacement.

April 2020: Time spent in Temporary accommodation

From April 2020 to March 2021 people spent an average of 199 days in temporary accommodation before being housed in somewhere permanent in Scotland.

October 2020: 'Ending Homelessness Together' action plan

Most recently updated in October 2020, Scotland is working to eradicate homelessness through the 'Ending Homelessness Together' action plan.

2020: AP Stylebook Entry on Homelessness

In 2020, The Associated Press Stylebook added an entry on homelessness, recommending "homeless" as an adjective and advocating for person-first language to avoid dehumanizing terms.

2020: Actions in response to homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic

In 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs announced several actions of the Central Committee in response to homelessness, including increasing support services and reuniting homeless people with their families. In Wuhan, 69 shelters were set up in the city to house 4,843 people.

2020: Homelessness Statistics in Scotland

In 2020-21, there were 42,149 people in homeless households in Scotland, including 30,345 adults and 11,804 children.

March 2021: Time spent in Temporary accommodation

From April 2020 to March 2021 people spent an average of 199 days in temporary accommodation before being housed in somewhere permanent in Scotland.

March 2021: Homeless service utilization

In March 2021, 5,894 adults in Ireland were utilizing homeless services, including 913 families with 2,166 dependents.

2022: Reducing the use of temporary accommodation

Across the course of 2022, Scotland will change its laws, reducing the use of temporary accommodation, in line with the Homeless and Rough Sleeping Action Group (HARSAG) recommendations.

2022: Homelessness increasing in 2022

From 2022 homelessness has increased 30 percent in 2024 from 1.75 per 1,000 people in 2022 to 2.3 per 1,000 people.

2022: Census 2022: Homelessness in Ireland

In 2022, the Census recorded 10,321 homeless individuals in Ireland, with over two-thirds (7,238) located in the Dublin region, marking a significant increase compared to previous years.

2022: Europe's population used in FEANTSA estimate

In September 2023, FEANTSA used Europe's total estimated population in 2022, which was 513 million, to arrive at an estimate of at least 895,000 homeless people in Europe.

March 2023: Research into Women's Homelessness in London

In March 2023, research into Women's Homelessness in London found that the situations people face may vary based on their background and/or experience, and found over 154 women sleeping rough in just one week.

September 2023: FEANTSA estimates number of homeless people in Europe

In September 2023, the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) estimated that at least 895,000 people are homeless on any one night in Europe. This was based on the most recent national statistics in 23 European countries, recording 533,054 people as homeless, and applying the average percentage of homeless people in those countries to Europe's total estimated population in 2022.

2023: Homeless children increase between 2023 and 2024

Between 2023 and 2024 the number of homeless children under the age of 18 grew as well by around 33 percent.

January 2024: Supreme Court to Decide on Laws Punishing Homelessness

In January 2024, the United States Supreme Court agreed to make a decision on whether city laws that punish individuals to limit the growth of homeless encampments are in violation of the Constitution's limits for cruel and unusual punishment.

June 2024: U.S. Supreme Court permits criminalizing homeless camps

In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling, permitted U.S. cities to criminalize homeless camps, thus making it possible to jail people for sleeping in areas such as public parks.

October 3, 2024: Florida Passes HB 1365 Law

On October 3, 2024, Florida passed the HB 1365 law that prohibits counties from allowing public camping or sleeping on public property without certification of designated public property by DCF according to the Florida Senate.

2024: Internally Displaced People in Ukraine

As of early 2024, there are nearly 3.7 million internally displaced people in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, facing dire living conditions and limited access to basic necessities.

2024: Homeless individuals in 2024

In 2024 the number of homeless individuals rose to approximately 771,400.

2024: Study confirms relationship between homelessness and crime

In 2024, a study published in the Annual Review of Criminology confirmed that homelessness faces the additional challenge of separating its consequences from the factors that lead to it. Homelessness is related to many variables associated with crime, victimization, and criminal legal system contact.