In Beligium 61% of the homeless are men, mainly middle-aged (on the average 39 years old), overwhelmingly singles (86%) and with a low education level (only 8% have a degree). They are mainly people with poor economic resources: 3 out of 4 of them have a monthly income lower than €1000 and are excluded from the labour market given that only 1 in 10 of them work. The high unemployment rate among the homeless is partly due to poor education in terms of qualifications and years of study, but it is also ascribable to poor health conditions: indeed, it has been estimated that 36% of the homeless have reduced mobility and 32% are disabled. These conditions are worsened by the fact that more than 1 in 2 homeless people do not have regular access either to drinkable water or to basic sanitation. These are the results of a survey conducted by the Belgian Research Institute on Work and Society Issues.
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