Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Poland

Summary of key data and information

	Summary of key data and information
Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1)	Homelessness is defined as a person who does not stay in a living accommodation and who is not registered for permanent residence therein or a person who does not stay in a living accommodation and is registered for permanent residence in a dwelling which is not adequate for living.
Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3)	31 985 individuals, representing 0.09% of the total population (2026)
	16% are women, 82% are men and 2% are children and youth (people below 18 years old)
	Point-in-time count + 2‑3 days around this date (mixed approach), based on the National Research on the Number of Homeless People
	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 4: People in institutions ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) 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)	The National Research on the Number of Homeless People is commissioned by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy in Poland based on the Social Assistance Act.
Homelessness Strategy (Table 5)	National Homelessness Strategy: Strategy of development of social services, public policy until 2030 (with a perspective until 2035) Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategy addressing homelessness: the National Programme for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. Update 2021‑2027, Public Policy with a 2030 outlook
Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6)	Nationwide research of the number of homeless people: Enumeration and survey of people experiencing homelessness performed nationwide on a single winter night (Table 6.1) Report on the implementation of activities for people experiencing homelessness in the regions (voivodeships): administrative data based on information from self-government entities providing social support (Table 6.2)

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness

	Statistical definition
Homelessness	According to the Social Assistance Act of 12 March 2004, homelessness is defined as a person who does not stay in a living accommodation and who is not registered for permanent residence therein or a person who does not stay in a living accommodation and is registered for permanent residence in a dwelling which is not adequate for living.

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
2019	30 330	0.08%	2 551	4 299	14 422	3 062	3 456(b)	Not included
2024	31 042	0.08%	2 874	3 423	15 730	5 241	3 774	Not included
2026	31 985(a)	0.09%	3 585	5 006	15 863	3 974	3 557	2 465(c)
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: Yes Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes

Note: (a) For the 2019 survey, an additional 2 540 people experiencing homelessness cannot be categorised and are not included in the headline estimate. (b) Data refer to the sum of vacant lots, houses on plots, and allotment gazebos. (c) For the first time in 2026, the survey also included people living with friends, family or other people (ETHOS Light 6). To avoid double‑counting, the number of people staying with family/friends from the 2026 survey (2 465) is not included in the headline estimate for 2026; the headline estimates for 2019, 2024 and 2026 are thus comparable across years.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Ministry of Family and Social Policy (2026), National Research on the Number of Homeless People.

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

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2026

	Single adults	Men	Women	Youth (aged 18‑25)	Older people (aged 60 and over)	Families with children (# of households)
Headline estimate of homelessness	27 159	26 047	5 170	1 232	10 218	NA
As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness	85%	82%	16%	4%	32%	NA
ETHOS Light 1: People living rough	NA	3 087	498	111	666	NA
ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation	NA	4 376	630	237	1 268	NA
ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless	NA	13 041	2 822	464	6 842	NA
ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions	NA	3 016	958	361	539	NA
ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings	NA	2 906	651	59	903	NA
ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends	NA	2 056	409	159	1 450	NA
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: Yes Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes

Note: Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive. All ETHOS Light data referring to males and females include data on children (people under 18 years old). To avoid double‑counting, data reported under ETHOS Light 6 are not included in the total headline estimate, as they are captured in other ETHOS Light categories.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Ministry of Family and Social Policy (2026), National Research on the Number of Homeless People.

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness

	Legal framework
Law that governs data collection on homelessness	The Social Assistance Act of 12 March 2004
Legal obligations	The National Homeless Survey is commissioned by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy in Poland

Table 5. Homelessness strategy

	Homelessness strategies in place
National Homelessness Strategy	National Homelessness Strategy: Strategy of development of social services, public policy until 2030 (with a perspective until 2035) Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategy addressing homelessness: the National Programme for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. Update 2021‑2027, Public Policy with a 2030 outlook
Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist	No.

Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness

6.1. Nationwide research of the number of homeless people
Description The National Homeless Survey is commissioned by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy in Poland based on the Social Assistance Act. Many entities are involved in the study. Regional offices co‑ordinate the process locally and are obligated to organise informational meetings with representatives of all services involved in the project (including the police, non-governmental organisations, and street workers). Each region and municipality designates a regional and municipal Research Co‑ordinator. Data from local government units is collected and aggregated in a dedicated system, accessible only to authorised individuals. For the first time, in the 2026 survey, the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy asked questions about “hidden homelessness”, i.e. whether a person in a homelessness crisis lives, has lived or knows someone who is a person experiencing homelessness and lives with friends, family or other people; as such, data on ETHOS Light 6 is included only starting from 2026.
Type of count generated Point-in-time + 2‑3 days (mixed approach)	Methods Street count Service‑based method
Lead authority(ies) Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy	Source(s) of information Data is collected at the municipality level, by social workers, NGO representatives, municipal guards, police and volunteers. It is then aggregated at the regional (voivodship) level.
Scope National level	Depth of data Sociodemographic characteristics: age, gender, nationality, marital status, education Duration and main causes of homelessness Income source Type of assistance received and support required
Frequency Usually every two years (the last results are from 2026).
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 4: People in institutions ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing) 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 https://www.gov.pl/web/rodzina/ogolnopolskie‑badanie‑liczby-osob-bezdomnych-i Results of the National Survey of the Number of Homeless People - Edition 2026 - Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy - Portal Gov.pl
6.2. Report on the implementation of activities for people experiencing homelessness in the regions (voivodeships).
Description Administrative data based on information from self-government entities providing social support. It includes inter alia data related to the number of exits from homelessness.
Type of count generated Flow (period)	Methods Administrative data gathered from all self-government entities providing social support.
Lead authority(ies) Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy	Source(s) of information Administrative data of self-government entities providing social support.
Scope National level	Depth of data Number of institutional places where self-government entities can locate people experiencing homelessness; Number of exits from homelessness Information about social support provided for people experiencing homelessness Information about the number of deaths due to cold that may be linked with homeless people Information about regional and local resources used to provide support for people experiencing homelessness
Frequency Usually every two years
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 4: People in institutions 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.

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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