Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Italy

Summary of key data and information

	Summary of key data and information
Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1)	ISTAT integrates administrative data with dedicated thematic surveys to provide complementary information on different dimensions of homelessness. National municipal-level statistics on homelessness are derived from the Permanent Population and Housing Census and are disseminated annually for all municipalities (latest release: 2024). Within this framework, information is extracted from the Administrative Population Register. Homeless individuals are identified as persons registered either at fictitious addresses specifically established for people experiencing homelessness or at the address of organizations providing assistance to people experiencing homelessness. In addition, ISTAT disseminates results from a dedicated thematic survey covering the 14 metropolitan core municipalities (first reference period: January 2026). This survey provides more detailed information on the first categories of homelessness according to the ETHOS Light classification.
Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3)	100 650 individuals, representing 0.17% of the total population (2024)
	34% are women, 66% are men
	Point-in-time estimated count, based on National Census estimates derived from administrative population register.
	ETHOS Light groups included	Included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) Not included: ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing)
	Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4)	There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in Italy.
Homelessness Strategy (Table 5)	National Homelessness Strategy: National Plan of Social Interventions and Services (2024-2026). The development of a new strategy is underway, in co-operation with the regions.
Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6)	Administrative validated data from the Permanent Census of Population and Housing (Censimento Permanent della Popoliazone e delle Abitazioni): Administrative records are linked with municipal registries to collect information on people experiencing homelessness (Table 6.1) The enhanced integrated survey system on extreme poverty ("Osservatorio sulla Povertà Estrema") and the first Homelessness Count in 14 Metropolitan Core Municipalities: Two-phase survey including a Point-In-Time count and a sample survey (Table 6.2)

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness

Statistical definition

Homelessness

For municipal estimation within the Census results, ISTAT has adopted an administrative definition, established by the Italian civil registration law (Regolamento Anagrafico): people without a fixed residence who are registered in the municipal population register at a fictitious address (national residential address) or at the address of NGOs/associations providing assistance to people experiencing homelessness.

Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology

Year	Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals)	% of total population	ETHOS Light 1 People living rough	ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation	ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless	ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions	ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings	ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends
2021	96 197	0.16%	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Not included	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Not included
2024	100 650	0.17%	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Not included	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Not included
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Data are comparable across years: Yes Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: No Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes

Note: Data do not include the number of people who reside in authorised camps or in tolerated and spontaneous settlements (15 770 people in 2021 and 12 919 people in 2024). Data from 2021 and 2024 are based on administrative sources used within the Permanent Population and Housing Census. In January 2026, ISTAT carried out a new two-phase survey on homelessness in 14 metropolitan cities, including a point-in-time (PIT) count and a sample survey among people counted in ETHOS Light categories 1 and 2; the survey is detailed in Table 6.2; results are not included in the headline number above, due to different methodologies with the Permanent Population and Housing Census

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); ISTAT (2024), Permanent Census of Population and Housing; and OECD calculations.

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2024

	Single adults	Men	Women	Youth (aged 18-34)	Older people (aged 65 and over)	Families with children (# of households)
Headline estimate of homelessness	NA	66 101	34 549	21 667	29 479	NA
As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness	NA	65.70%	34.30%	21.50%	29.30%	NA
ETHOS Light 1: People living rough	NA	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	NA
ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation	NA	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	NA
ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless	NA	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	NA
ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions	NA	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	NA
ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings	NA	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	Included in headline estimate but not specified	NA
ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends	NA	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	NA
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: No Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes

Note: Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); ISTAT (2024), Permanent Census of Population and Housing, OECD calculations.

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness

	Legal framework
Law that governs data collection on homelessness	None.
Legal obligations	None.

Table 5. Homelessness strategy

	Homelessness strategies in place
National Homelessness Strategy	National Plan of Social Interventions and Services (2024-2026). The development of a new strategy is underway, in co-operation with the regions.
Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist	No.

Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness

6.1. Administrative validated data from the Permanent Census of Population and Housing (Censimento Permanent della Popoliazone e delle Abitazioni)
Description The permanent population and housing census produces information on the population of usual residents in each municipality, thus providing an overview of the demographic and social structure of Italy and its territories. It is a combined census, based on the integration of registers and ad hoc sample surveys. Data on the following three aggregates are extracted yearly from the statistical Population Register and submitted to municipalities for validation: 1) people living in institutional households; 2) people experiencing homelessness; 3) people living in formal or informal camps. As for category 2, this is possible since, according to the law (Regolamento Anagrafico), municipalities must identify fictitious addresses for the registration of people experiencing homelessness and people without a fixed residence. In some cases, addresses of NGOs providing assistance to/taking care of people experiencing homelessness are used for this purpose (in the same municipality, it is possible to have both fictitious and real addresses used for this purpose). Each year, the addresses and the corresponding population aggregates are extracted from the Population Register by Istat and submitted to Municipal Census Offices validation. These may include people living rough or in different kind of accommodations. In some cases, municipalities also use these addresses for victims of domestic violence and for other groups in need of protection (i.e., unaccompanied minors). These data are affected both by an overcount error (i.e., data include people who are not experiencing homelessness) and an undercount error (i.e., data do not include all people experiencing homelessness; for instance, data exclude foreigners who do not hold a permit of stay, as the permit of stay is a prerequisite for being registered in the municipal Population Register; in addition, data exclude people who have become homeless but are still registered at their previous address).
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Population census Administrative data
Lead authority(ies) National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT).	Source(s) of information Municipalities provide information to ISTAT.
Scope National level	Depth of data Sociodemographic characteristics: sex, age, nationality (country of origin, continent), etc.
Frequency Annual
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources http://dati-censimentipermanenti.istat.it/
6.2. The enhanced integrated survey system on extreme poverty ("Osservatorio sulla Povertà Estrema") and the first Homelessness Count in 14 Metropolitan Core Municipalities
Description ISTAT has developed an integrated strategy to collect more detailed information on people experiencing homelessness or severe socio-economic deprivation. This strategy is part of the Population Census Plan and also responds to the need to improve ISTAT data collection and dissemination on extreme poverty. The strategy includes several data collection activities carried out at least once every five years: • an update of the national list of services for people experiencing homelessness or severe socio-economic hardship (e.g. soup kitchens, shelters, outreach units, centres distributing basic necessities and other services); • a survey of these services; • a sample survey among users of selected services, aimed at estimating the number of homeless persons accessing services and collecting information on their main socio-demographic characteristics; • a Point-in-Time (PIT) count, carried out in selected municipalities (typically metropolitan cities or other municipalities of interest), aimed at counting people sleeping rough or staying in emergency or night shelters. In January 2026, ISTAT carried out the first survey of this new strategy, the PIT count organized as a two-phase survey on homelessness in 14 metropolitan cities. The target population of the survey were adults (18+) either living on the streets or in makeshift accommodation (without shelter that can be defined as a housing solution), or using dormitories (people without a fixed abode who frequently move between different types of dormitories), covering ETHOS Light categories 1 and 2. The first phase of the operation was a point-in-time (PIT) count of homeless people in shelters and public spaces (visual count without contact with the person); the second stage was a thematic in-depth sample survey based on direct interviews, conducted within 3 days immediately following the count.
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Street and Shelter Night count
Lead authority(ies) National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) fio.PSD-ETS (Italian Federation of Organisms for the Homeless)	Source(s) of information Support from municipalities for mapping detection areas and obtaining lists of emergency night shelters Direct field enumeration conducted by trained volunteers and professionals
Scope Sub-national (urban/metropolitan)	Depth of data Sociodemographic characteristics: gender, age, nationality (Italian or non-Italian)
Frequency One-time
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources Report_Il-conteggio-delle-PSD-14-CCAM.pdf Due to differences in methodology and geographical scope, the data are not comparable and cannot be aggregated with the homelessness data collected through the Permanent Census of Population and Housing (Table 6.1).

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housing-database.html.

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