Gothenburg’s Housing First program cuts acute homelessness by roughly six-tenths

In Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city, the Housing First approach has led to a marked reduction in homelessness, with the 2026 count showing about 3,000 homeless individuals, 411 of whom are acutely homeless. Over ten years, acute homelessness has dropped by approximately 60% and overall homelessness by just under 40%. The programme’s core principle is to provide permanent housing first, without requiring sobriety or other conditions, and then deliver services for substance abuse and mental health.

Residents keep their apartments even if they relapse, benefitting from the same tenant protections as regular housing. The non-profit Goteborgs Stadsmission secures leases initially, and many tenants assume the lease after about two years. Gothenburg’s large public-housing stock has facilitated the model, which began 14 years ago and has attracted national attention as Sweden’s 2022 homelessness strategy encourages municipalities to adopt similar approaches.