Sources of publicly available data

• First spend some time researching statistics and homelessness data online. There’s a wealth of information, but always verify news sources and find the evidence behind newspaper headlines.
• Many local/municipal authorities publish data on homelessness, including street counts. Check their website for published statistics, reports and strategies that help identify the scale of street homelessness and what’s being done to tackle it.
• NGOs or researchers in your country may publish reports, statistics and evidence on solutions to homelessness. For example, in Scotland the Centre for Homelessness Impact – homelessnessimpact.org – links research and evidence into what works in ending homelessness, to policy and practice.
• Some European countries publish statistics and reports through national government departments.
• There are sources of information about homelessness, housing supply and housing issues across Europe. Look at the European Commission website, umbrella organisations such as FEANTSA (feantsa.org) and relevant EU networks, such as Housing Europe (www.housingeurope.eu).
• At a global level the Institute of Global Homelessness publishes information on a searchable database, and also sends out regular bulletins with new reports and information to subscribers (ighomelessness.org).
• Where certain information is not publicly available, it may be possible to request information using tools such as Freedom of Information (FOI) laws, or through parliamentary or governmental questions. You can even write to your local elected representative, to request information or ask questions in an official capacity.