Bill Edgar (Dundee University) Matt Harrison (RIS) Volker Busch-Geertsema (GISS) European Commission MPHASIS Mutual Progress on Homelessness through Advancing and Strengthening Information Systems Context and Background Budapest, March 14 th 2008

European Commission Mphasis Project Background Measuring Homelessness Report – ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_inclusion/docs/2007/ Homeless Information Strategy – Definition of homelessness – Definition of core variables – Approach to creating a directory of services – Capturing client level information from service providers – Using administrative, census and survey data

European Commission PROGRESS Social Inclusion Strategy – Mutual Learning – Mobilising all actors Commission Expectations – Concrete Outputs and Outcomes Mphasis Approach – Mutual Learning / Practice Strand – Research Strand

European Commission Intervention Strategies Shifting Approaches – Alleviation (emergency and temporary) – Integration (housing and support) – Prevention (at risk population) Multi-dimensional – Housing, Social Services – Health, Prisons, Immigration etc. Measures – Scale, Profile – Targets, Outputs and Outcomes

European Commission Pathways Models Dynamic Process – Typology of Living situations – Statistical Ghetto Measures – Point-in-time (stock) – Flow and Prevalence Sources of Information – Survey, Registers, Administrative and Census

European Commission Data Collection Overview Survey Methods Homeless persons surveys National Capital City Local Authority/ Institutions National Regional Register Methods National Client Registers Individual level Official Registers of Services Regulation NGO RegistersIndividual level Census Survey Basede.g. Lithuania Register / Mixede.g. Finland, France

European Commission Graph Slide Typology of Living Situations Housing Units Types of housing Collective Living Quarters Other Living Situations Conventional dwelling Non- conventional dwelling Institutional Building Non- institutional Building Public Spaces external spaces

European Commission Operational Definition Operational CategoryLiving Situation 1People Living Rough1Public space / external space 2People in emergency accommodation2Overnight Shelters 3People living in accommodation for the homeless Homeless Hostels Temporary Accommodation Transitional Supported Accommodation Womens shelter or refuge accommodation 4People living in institutions7878 Health care institutions Penal institutions 5People living in non-conventional dwellings due to lack of housing Mobile homes Non-conventional building Temporary structure 6People living temporarily with family and friends 12Conventional housing, but not the persons usual place of residence

European Commission Measuring Homelessness Policy Purpose – Planning, Funding, Monitoring – Prevention, integration, alleviation – Different measures for different policies Accommodation Services – Diversity of forms – Diversity of purpose – Diversity of access, allocation, regulation

European Commission Mphasis Meetings NOT to be the focus of meetings – Definition of homelessness – See Proposed Definition – Use pre-meetings to clarify Research Strand will complement – Definition of core variables Focus on Information Strategy – Approach to creating a directory of services – Capturing client level information from service providers – Administrative etc data