Aarhus City Council
On Wednesday City Council gets follow-up: 492 homeless in Aarhus despite drop of 64
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On Wednesday 4 November 2026, Aarhus City Council will consider the follow-up on the homelessness area for 2025.
- Social
- Bolig
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- City council
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Summary
On Wednesday 4 November 2026, Aarhus City Council will consider the follow-up on the homelessness area for 2025. The Municipal Executive recommends that the byråd (city council) adopt the recommendation to take note of the status and forward the goals for discussion in the Social Affairs and Employment Committee.
What it means for you
The follow-up paints a picture of a city where fewer people are homeless than in 2024, but where the city council’s cap of 300 homeless people — and 100 young people aged 18 to 29 — still has not been met. For Aarhus residents on residential care placements and in Housing First programmes, the issue is whether the level of ambition should be adjusted when the Masterplan for the homelessness area in Aarhus 2027-2030 comes up for discussion.
Background
The city council adopted a set of goals for the homelessness area on 16 August 2023 and decided that the city council receives a follow-up every other year when VIVE’s homelessness count is available. Sociale Forhold og Beskæftigelse writes that the drop in the number of homeless people indicates that the Housing First strategy is working and that many have obtained housing and support.
The goals for 2026 include a maximum of 300 homeless people in total and a maximum of 100 young people aged 18-29. For 2030 the cap is 150 homeless people in total and 50 young people. Other goals apply from 1 January 2026: no young people under 30 in the municipality’s own adult residential care homes, Housing First intervention within 90 days, 90 percent with a civil registration address one year after moving in, increasing attachment to the labour market or education — and by 2030, that homelessness is only short-term.
According to the recommendation, the administration meets two of the city council’s goals, while one is largely met. Follow-up on several goals was carried out as of 31 December 2025 to show the direction of travel. On 27 October 2026 the Municipal Executive recommended that the city council adopt the recommendation of 25 September 2026. Rådmand (alderman) for Technical and Environmental Nicolaj Bang and rådmand (alderman) for Culture and Citizen Service Jesper Kjeldsen were unable to take part in the Municipal Executive’s consideration.
Figures and facts
- 492 people were homeless in Aarhus in week 6 of 2026 according to VIVE — a drop of 64 people (11.5%) since 2024. (Appendix — Recommendation)
- The 18-29 age group fell by 17 people (9%); the goals of a maximum of 100 young people and 300 homeless people in total were not reached. (Appendix — Recommendation)
- 58% had been homeless for up to 11 months, while 42% had been homeless for more than one year; the share in long-term homelessness fell from 50% in 2024 to 42% in 2026. (Appendix — Recommendation) (Appendix — Appendix 1: Development in the homelessness area – Follow-up 2025)
- Since the homelessness reform took effect on 1 October 2023, more than 400 residents have obtained housing; around 200 currently receive support under the specialised support methods. (Appendix — Recommendation)
- In 2025, 93% of Aarhus residents on residential care placements had a care plan (430 residents); 92% with Housing First for at least one year were still in their own home after one year (159 people). (Appendix — Appendix 1: Development in the homelessness area – Follow-up 2025)
- At the end of 2025, 52 residents with Housing First support had attachment to work or education — 32%, an increase of 24% since 2024. (Appendix — Appendix 1: Development in the homelessness area – Follow-up 2025)
What happens next
Sociale Forhold og Beskæftigelse recommends that the city council take note of the follow-up and that the goals be discussed in the Social Affairs and Employment Committee when the rådmand (alderman) for Sociale Forhold og Beskæftigelse presents the Masterplan for the homelessness area in Aarhus 2027-2030. The rådmand presents the master plan to the committee in autumn 2026. The Municipal Executive recommends that the city council adopt the recommendation.