1. COST Action Measuring Homelessness in Europe
Prof. dr. Koen Hermans

2. Why COST ? Goals : No research, but in practice?
Building or strengthening research network
Capacity building
Developing new research ideas / projects / …
No research, but in practice?
Short-time scientific missions and training schools as research tools
Not only scientific impact, also societal impact
Check host institution rules concerning budget

3. Developing the project
Memorandum of understanding: many successful actions online
Building a first network of proposers / countries
Proposing team : leaders of the working groups
Pay attention to “Inclusiveness Target Countries”

4. The proposal: the MoU
Most difficult issue: not clear who and how many will participate
‘Open’ vs ‘focused’ project planning
Role of training networks and STSM
Working groups
STSM-strategy
Communication strategy
My proposal has three main parts :
State of the art
New developments / innovations / case studies
Integrating the new insights  book publication

5. After the approval 6 months between approval and start of the project
Cost networks are open networks
Local Cost Offices decide (based on expertise?)
Informal contacts with proposer
First meeting in Brussels:
Not the final composition of the network
Election of MC Chair, Budget Holder and WG-leaders
Budget Holder and MC Chair of same institution
First half year plan

6. Recommendations Strong network of proposers with a division of tasks
WG leaders + Chair = leading group
Experience with COST is helpful
Pay enough attention to informal contacts
STSM and training schools as drivers of research