Bill Edgar European Observatory on Homelessness FEANTSA Homelessness A European Perspective Joint Centre for Scottish Housing Research

Overview of Presentation Understanding Homelessness Country Perspectives and State Responses European Social Model

Nature of Homelessness SCALE – 3 million sleeping rough – 15 million inadequately housed PERSISTENCE – Growing problem – Endemic not transitory experience PROFILE – Changing composition – Young, Old, Women, Immigrants / Ethnic

Understanding Homelessness Homelessness = Socio-demographic change : composition + Economic restructuring : housing vulnerability + Housing restructuring : deregulation + Welfare retrenchment : support

Weakly Regulated Housing Markets (1) Promotion of home ownership De-regulation of rented sector – rent control – risk reduction in social housing Rising costs and affordability of housing

Weakly Regulated Housing Markets (2) Subsidy shift – supply to consumption subsidies – regressive impacts Reduction in state provision State withdrawal – expenditure reduction – decentralisation – privatisation of social housing companies

Changing Welfare State in Europe WELFARE PROCTECTION WELFARE ASSISTANCE universal provision means tests, targeted WELFARE AS CONTROL ‘PARTICIPATORY’ WELFARE ‘normalisation’ user involvement etc

Understanding Homelessness Socio- demographic Economic restructuring Welfare retrenchment POLICY CONTEXT HISTORIC CONTEXT

Factors leading to Homelessness CAUSES STRUCTURAL INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIP PERSONAL FACTORS Poverty Unemployment Housing Institutional Living Foster / State Care Prison Experience Armed Forces Abusive relationship (childhood) Abusive relationship (with a partner) Family Breakdown (death or separation) Mental Illness Learning Difficulty Drug Dependency Alcohol Dependency TRIGGERS Debts Financial Crisis Eviction (arrears) Eviction (behaviour) Leaving care Leaving Care Leaving prison Forces discharge Leaving family home Fleeing violent relationship Coping with living alone Deterioration / illness episode Support breakdown Substance Misuse SUPPORT FOCUS PREVENTION HOUSING FOCUS CARE FOCUS REINTEGRATION

Continental Southern Europe Central Europe Cyprus & Malta ?? Nordic & Netherlands more less more less H O U S I N G P R O B L E M S SUPPORT PROBLEMS Atlantic

Country Perspectives Nordic – Homelessness is ‘Social Problem’ not housing Continental – Germany - relaxed housing market – France - SRU legislation / housing rights Mediterranean – State Role and Family Role changing EU-10 – Structural and Housing issues Atlantic – Housing + Support

Policy Context and Gray Areas Welfare Policy Gaps – Homeless hostels services of last resort ? – Policy pathways? Co-ordination / Inter-agency Working – Health, Social Work, Justice system, Housing? – Institutional pre-release procedures? Service Delivery Failures – Support provision / funding? – Inappropriate accommodation (communal)? – Staffing culture and training?

Housing Integration Individual InterpersonalInstitutionalStructural Undermines Tenancies Segregatio n, weak legal status Low socio-economic status, unemployment, and segregation Lack of family support Limited education, skills, history of persecution Self-esteem, perception of control Adapted from WHO Fact Sheet No 239, June 2001). Race Equality/ Non Violence Community cohesion, neighbourhood facilities, support network Extended family/friends support Supports Tenancies

Accommodation and Support

ETHOS Definition Inadequately Housed Temporary / illegal structures Overcrowding Unfit for habitation Rough Sleeping Night shelter Hostel / temporary accommodation Women’s shelter Asylum / immigrants shelters Institutional release Supported housing No tenancy Eviction orders Violence / threat Roofless Houseless Insecure Housing

European Social Model Economic Model – Poverty – Labour market integration – Infrastructure (including housing) Social Model – Access to housing and support – Vulnerable groups – Mobilising all actors

NAPs/Inclusion Improved Measurement / Indicators Establish Targets Range of Policies reflecting nature of housing exclusion Integration Policies supported by local assessments of need Disseminate Good Practice Respond to changing needs

INTERPLAY OF TRHEE SPHERES MARKET STATEHOUSEHOLDS/COMMUNITY Polarisation, winners and losers Dependency and stigmatisation Responsibillity mismatch