Cities Ending Homelessness Forum to take place at the Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup this summer
The Oslo 2025 Cities Ending Homelessness Forum will be held across multiple days of the tournament which is being held in Oslo for the 2nd time.
The Cities Ending Homelessness Forum, launched by the Homeless World Cup Foundation in 2023, will once again take to the stage at this year’s Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup, the second time the tournament has been held in Norway’s capital city and the 20th edition of the Homeless World Cup tournament.
Homelessness is a challenging issue around the globe and the Cities Ending Homelessness initiative was created in collaboration with Catalyst Now to bring together policy makers, social innovators, practitioners, those with lived experience, academics and the private sector from across sectors to explore how to end homelessness.
THE oslo 2025 cities ending homelessness forum will adopt a solutions-focused approach rather than the age-old emphasis on the problems.
In Oslo the voices of those with lived experience will be an important part of the Forum as we learn what Norway is doing to help end homelessness and create systems change as well as exploring what else needs to be done.
The full schedule for the Oslo 2025 Cities Ending Homeless Forum and how to register can be found here:
Dates: 23rd – 29th August
Venues: Nobel Peace Centre, Brynjulf Bulls plass 1, 0250 Oslo, Norway
Rådhusplassen (City Hall Square), 0037 Oslo, Norway – and venue for the tournament (see full schedule for specific session venues)
It will be the second time the Norwegian capital has hosted the tournament and as in 2017 the football will be played at the iconic Rådhusplassen (City Hall Square)
The Homeless World Cup is a football tournament with purpose and the Cities Ending Homelessness initiative has been a prominent part of the past two tournaments (Sacramento 2023 Homeless World Cup and Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup). The Foundation’s year-round work culminates in a world class event which has the power to change the lives of participants and shape attitudes towards this global issue, using the universal language of football.
The Forum in Oslo will be the first time that a Cities Ending Homelessness event has been held across multiple days of the tournament and offers the opportunity to explore solutions to homelessness in Norway as well as hearing from international speakers.
The sessions will explore a broad range of topics including hope, housing first, women’s homelessness and gender-based violence, drug and alcohol addiction, loneliness, sport for social impact, building trusted relationships in social work and so much more
Mel Young welcoming attendees to the Seoul 2024 Cities Ending Homelessness Conference
Petra Kjellén Brooke, Section Manager Welfare and Development, Salvation Army Social Services, said:
“This isn’t just another conference—it’s a catalyst for action. Here, we move beyond discussion to innovation, collaboration, and real-world solutions.
“Bringing together academics, people with lived experience, practitioners, civil society, authorities, and key stakeholders, this event is a unique platform to tackle homelessness and its root causes from every angle.
“It’s a space for open dialogue, mutual learning, and shared commitment—where every voice matters and every insight counts. Together, we’ll explore the most effective paths forward, grounded in both evidence and empathy.
“Let this gathering be a call to action, echoing the powerful words of Salvation Army founder William Booth when he learned of people sleeping under London’s bridges:
‘Go and do something’”
Mel Young, co-founder and Homeless World Cup Foundation President, said:
“In practical terms, Cities Ending Homelessness is an initiative which highlights global homelessness and focuses on positive global outcomes and solutions. The Homeless World Cup Foundation alone cannot solve the problem.
“Homelessness is a result of a global failure in the system, a growing inequality, a lack of affordable housing and insufficient mental health resources to support those who need it the most. This is why the Cities Ending Homelessness initiative is so important, at the Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup we want to bring together social entrepreneurs, people who have experienced homelessness, academics and policy makers to develop practical solutions.
“The Homeless World Cup Foundation will bring its wealth of first-hand experience to the table this August with the long-term aim to build on the success of our last two events in Sacramento and Seoul and continue creating a new global network of individuals and organisations committed to ending homelessness.”
The Homeless World Cup is not just a football tournament; it’s a global movement that empowers individuals, providing them with confidence, support, and networks to rebuild their lives and change perceptions in the process.
Cities Ending Homelessness is another powerful reminder of how the Homeless World Cup Foundation uses its international reach and experience to make a positive change across the world.
Images from our previous two Cities Ending Homeless Conferences in Sacramento (2023) and Seoul (2024):
