Homelessness in Switzerland

Homelessness in Switzerland is a known social issue, however, there are few estimates as to the number of Swiss people affected.[1] Homelessness is less visible in Switzerland than in many other Western countries. The majority of homeless people in Geneva are Swiss or French, with a minority from other countries.[2]

One Swiss study found that 1.6 percent of all patients admitted to psychiatric wards were homeless. The study reported that social factors and psychopathology are independently contributing to the risk of homelessness.[3]

In 2014, Swiss authorities reportedly began allowing homeless people to sleep in fallout shelters built during the Cold War.[2]

There are a number of centers for providing food for the homeless, including the Suneboge community center.[4]

  1. ^ "Global Homelessness Statistics". Homeless World Cup.
  2. ^ a b Bond, Kate (22 October 2014). "New cold war: the Geneva fallout bunkers doubling as homeless shelters" – via The Guardian.
  3. ^ Lauber, Christoph; Lay, Barbara; Rössler, Wulf (22 January 2005). "Homelessness among people with severe mental illness in Switzerland". Swiss Med Wkly. 135 (3–4): 50–56. PMID 15729607.
  4. ^ swissinfo.ch, Luigi Jorio. "Broke and homeless on the streets of Zurich - SWI swissinfo.ch".