A note on the Düsseldorfer Model for counting homeless people in a German city

Abstract

This article describes the Düsseldorfer Model which was developed for the city’s homeless census in 2021. It allows focusing on the number as well as living situations of homeless people with the objective of analyzing their needs to derive concrete recommendations for action. A complete quantitative count of homeless people in the city on a key date was performed according to principles developed together with the actors of the homeless support system in Düsseldorf. Beyond that, qualitative interviews afforded insights into the living situation of homeless people from the user’s perspective. Along with the research methodology, major results are briefly presented in the article, followed by an outlook with recommendations for action.