Denmark is battling homelessness.

Between 2009 and 2013, the northern European country saw a 16 percent rise in the number of people lacking permanent housing. But one Danish town has tackled the problem head on. In the same, four-year period, Odense has managed to reduce the number of homeless people by 47 percent.

The municipality organised a conference for social workers from eight other European countries to explain the secret to its success.