Governing Through Definitions and Numbers: Analysis of the Nordic Homeless Registrations as Instruments of Governing Homelessness

Abstract

The four Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, have for many years carried out periodic national surveys of homelessness. These surveys constitute time series, which make it possible to follow the development of the number of persons and the profile of those experiencing homelessness. The starting point of the time series differs between the countries. Finland’s surveys date back to 1987, while Denmark, which has the shortest series, conducted the first survey in 2007. The studies in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are widely similar with regard to the definition of homelessness and the method for carrying out the surveys, while Finland has a somewhat different approach. The surveys in the four countries are closely linked to governing homelessness, though in different ways. In some cases they are used partly as direct instruments of governance in monitoring the developments, but also provide a response to whether political initiatives to prevent and counteract homelessness are effective or not. The collection of the data, even if they are included in the comparable time series, adapt to some extent the questions that the authorities want to know something about. This is also a way in which the mappings are included in the management of the area. Finally, the very definitions of homelessness, who is included and excluded, is a form of management of the field.