ETHOSEUROPEAN TYPOLOGY OF HOMELESSNESSAND HOUSING EXCLUSION

What is ETHOS?
ETHOS is the European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion. It was developed by FEANTSA as a transnationalframework definition for policy and practice purposes. It provides a shared language for transnational exchange. It does not
attempt to harmonise national definitions of homelessness in Europe.
ETHOS classifies living situations that constitute homelessness or housing exclusion. ETHOS identifies 4 main categoriesof living situation: Rooflessness, Houselessness, Insecure Housing and Inadequate Housing. These conceptual categories
are divided into 13 operational categories that can be used for different policy purposes, such as mapping the problem ofhomelessness, as well as developing, monitoring and evaluating policies.

ROOFLESSOPERATIONAL CATEGORY

LIVING SITUATION

1

People Living Rough

1.1

Public space or external space2

People in emergency
accommodation

2.1 Night shelter

3

People in accommodation forthe homeless

3.1 Homeless hostel
3.2 Temporary accommodation

GENERIC DEFINITION
Living in the streets or public spaces, without a shelter
that can be defined as living quarters

People with no usual place of residence who make useof overnight shelter, low threshold shelter
Where the period of stay is intended to be short term

HOUSELESS

3.3 Transitional supported accommodation4

People in Women’s Shelter

4.1 Women’s shelter accommodation

Women accommodated to experience of domestic
violence and where the period of stay is intended to be
short term

5

People in accommodation for
immigrants

5.1 Temporary accommodation/reception
centres

Immigrants in reception or short term accommodation
due to their immigrant status

5.2 Migrant workers accommodationConceptual Category

67INADEQUATEINSECURE

89

People due to be released from 6.1 Penal institutions
institutions
6.2 Medical institutions (*)
People receiving longer-term
support (due to homelessness)
People living in insecureaccommodation

People living under threat ofeviction

No housing available prior to release
Stay longer than needed due to lack of housing

6.3 Children’s institutions/homes

No housing identified (e.g. by 18th birthday)

7.1

Long stay accommodation with care for formerly
homeless people (normally more than one year)

Residential care for older homeless people

Supported accommodation for formerly
7.2 homeless people
8.1 Temporarily with family/friends

Living in conventional housing but not the usual placeof residence due to lack of housing

8.2 No legal (sub)tenancy

Occupation of dwelling with no legal tenancy illegal
occupation of a dwelling

8.3 Illegal occupation of land

Occupation of land with no legal rights

9.1 Legal orders enforced (rented)

Where orders for eviction are operative

9.2 Re-possession orders (owned)

Where mortagee has legal order to re-possess

10People living under threat ofviolence

10.1 Police recorded incidents

Where police action is taken to ensure place of safety
for victims of domestic violence

11

People living in temporary/non-conventional structures

11.1 Mobile homes

Not intended as place of usual residence

12People living in unfit housing

11.2 Non-conventional building

Makeshift shelter, shack or shanty

11.3 Temporary structure

Semi-permanent structure hut or cabin

12.1 Occupied dwellings unfit for habitation

Defined as unfit for habitation by national legislation orbuilding regulations

13

People living in extreme
13.1 Highest national norm of overcrowding
Defined as exceeding national density standard forover-crowding
floor-space or uesable rooms
Note: Short stay is defined as normally less than one year; Long stay in defined as more than one year.

(*) Includes drug rehabilitation institutions, psychiatric hospitals etc.