Bill Edgar (University of Dundee UK) Volker Busch-Geertsema (GISS, Germany) MPHASIS Mutual Progress on Homelessness through Advancing and Strengthening Information Systems European Commission UNECE/CES POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS Counting Homeless People in the Census W.P.7

European Commission Census Counting Homeless People  Context  Definition  Census Approaches  Enumeration Method 2011  Population Registers  Key Issues

European Commission Definition of Homelessness CategoryMeasuring Homeless Study 2007 UNECE / CES Recommendations People living roughPrimary Homeless 2People in emergency accommodation Secondary Homeless 3People living in accommodation for the homeless 4People living in institutions (due to be released but no home to go to) 5People living in non-conventional dwellings due to lack of housing 6Homeless people living temporarily in conventional housing with family and friends (due to lack of housing)

European Commission Census Approaches CENSUS APPROACH 2011 COUNTRIES Conventional censusGreece, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, UK, Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania Register-based censusDenmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Austria Combination of register- based census and conventional census Latvia, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Spain Combination of register- based census and sample survey Netherlands, Belgium Rolling censusFrance

European Commission FEANTSA Survey Results Homeless enumerated through traditional methods and cooperation with homeless services Homeless enumerated as part of a register Homeless enumerated through register and homeless services Czech Republic England France Hungary Ireland Italy Lithuania Luxembourg Poland Portugal Austria Belgium Denmark Finland Netherlands Sweden Estonia Spain Latvia Slovenia German y

European Commission Census Enumeration Primary Homeless  Methodology identified in only a few countries  Pilot methodology tested in a few countries  Consultation with service providers  Use of special enumerators Secondary Homeless  Homeless hostels can not always be identified from other collective living situations  People living temporarily with family and friends due to lack of housing – often not distinguishable from other household residents

European Commission Register Based Systems Census data mainly drawn from  Central Population Register (CPR)  Database of Households  Register of Dwellings / Buildings Germany  No CPR – local authorities to provide information  Register of Dwellings being established (7.5m owners)  Register of Special Dwellings yet to be developed  Linking registers + data protection = aggregate data Slovenia  Registers Dwellings in establishment phase  eDatabase of Households being computerised  CPR – relationships among persons not complete

European Commission Germany - Issues Rough Sleepers / Emergency Accommodation  Not registered at any registry office Register of Special Buildings  Definition and identification issues  Homeless accommodation diverse (budgets, providers)  Fictitious addresses (welfare departments) Community, institutional and emergency accommodation  Combined in a common group  Homeless may be counted but can not be identified

European Commission Slovenia - Issues Register of Buildings  “buildings for special purposes” - maternity homes, shelters and asylums, homes for the elderly, student dorms The Residence Registration Act (2006)  registers homeless at agency where they receive help  requires a complete register of services  requires ability to identify homeless services  Living with Family/friends will be excluded Buildings not intended for habitation  CPR needs cross-reference to Register of Buildings

European Commission Summary of Issues by Category Measuring Homeless Study (2007) Operational Categories Register Based Census 1People living roughOnly covered when registered at support organisation 2People in emergency accommodation Can be covered if: addresses are identified and inhabitants are either registered there or counted separately 3People living in accommodation for the homeless 4People living in institutions (due to be released, but no home to go to) In most countries no information is available 5People living in non-conventional dwellings due to lack of housing Covered if persons are registered there with permanent address 6Homeless people living temporarily in conventional housing with family and friends (due to lack of housing) Difficult to cover in register based census. Can cover people if: postal address registered with a support agency

European Commission Questions / Issues Enumeration Procedures for census night  Adequacy of methods to count the street homeless and those living in emergency accommodation?  Can homeless people living temporarily with family and friends on census night due to lack of housing be identified? Register Based Systems – Counting the Homeless  Difficulties to count primary homeless in register systems  Incomplete registers of special buildings / Fictitious addresses  Linking registers to separately identify homeless difficult Cross-cutting Issues  Can a typology of collective living situations be determined to allow homeless accommodation to be identified?  Different procedures for different segments of the homeless  Census definition of the homeless