The city's university is to carry out a project on behalf of the city council.
The council recognises that its own housing register is a record of people wanting to rent public sector homes - not an accurate measure of demand.
The research will look at the needs of homeless people, those who're unemployed or unable to work, and those at risk of losing their homes because of rising costs or benefit cuts.
Researchers will be liaising with organisations working with homeless people as well as conducting an online survey.
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