1. European Research Conference Access to Housing for Homeless People in Europe York, 21st September 2012 Making the Private Rental Sector Responsible - Some Lessons from Ghent (B) Maarten Davelaar, Verwey-Jonker Institute (NL) Insert your logo here

2. European Research Conference Access to Housing for Homeless People in Europe York, 21st September 2012 Content Homelessness & housing Some characteristics on homelessness & housing in Flanders & Ghent Making the private sector responsible: instruments Challenges & Strengths (= potential for transferability)

3. European Research Conference Access to Housing for Homeless People in Europe York, 21st September 2012 Homelessness & housing Need for: Prevention of house evictions Improving access to regular housing:  developing Housing First (semi-independent living)  bringing down barriers to social housing  affordable housing in the private sector

4. European Research Conference Access to Housing for Homeless People in Europe York, 21st September 2012 Context Belgium / Flanders Home ownership central Large, fragmented private rental sector Small social housing sector (7% of total) Complex, mixed governance system:  local and regional political priorities  local and regional financing of local services  services on the ground delivered by both public and NGO services  imperfect decentralisation: limited local public steering capacity

5. European Research Conference Access to Housing for Homeless People in Europe York, 21st September 2012 Ghent: figures (2009-2010) 114,795 households 33,500 low income hh 14,900 renting hh live in low quality housing 7,900 renting hh: difficulties paying the rent 398 procedures for house evictions started, 125 evict. (other estim. 300-400)

6. European Research Conference Access to Housing for Homeless People in Europe York, 21st September 2012 Homelessness policies: partners City of Ghent: Unit for Local Social Policy Public Centre for Social Welfare – OCMW Centres for General Welfare – CAW (NGOs) Other NGOs: Huize Triest, Street corner work, Woonfonds Social Housing Associations

7. European Research Conference Access to Housing for Homeless People in Europe York, 21st September 2012 Instruments private sector (1) System of Social Rental Agencies: OCMW and ‘Woonfonds’-NGO (300 units) Floating services / supported housing also available to people in regular housing Agreement on prevention of evictions in the private rental sector

8. European Research Conference Access to Housing for Homeless People in Europe York, 21st September 2012 Instruments (2) Prevention of evictions in the private rental sector (by CAWs):  Building on experiences in social housing sector  To address problematic situations in private rental market  Tenants and landlords can report problems  94 trajectories in 2010

9. European Research Conference Access to Housing for Homeless People in Europe York, 21st September 2012 Strengths Local cooperation despite complex political-administrative context Various instruments to address problems in the private rental sector Clear commitment: reaching out to clients in regular housing

10. European Research Conference Access to Housing for Homeless People in Europe York, 21st September 2012 Challenges (1) Attractiveness of Ghent as a ‘hub’ for ‘starters’: students, (EU-)migrants, people leaving institutions Shortage of decent affordable housing: housing policies for low income groups?

11. European Research Conference Access to Housing for Homeless People in Europe York, 21st September 2012 Challenges (2) Existing regulations not always enforced  Quality & safety standards  Unoccupied property  Vacant space over shops Need to invest further in prevention and (quick) re-housing while…the pressure on basic services is mounting

12. European Research Conference Access to Housing for Homeless People in Europe York, 21st September 2012 To sum up Complex context, but fruitful local cooperation Innovations:  social rental agencies  floating services for people in regular housing  protocols on prevention of evictions in social and private sector Pressure on affordable housing continues

13. European Research Conference Access to Housing for Homeless People in Europe York, 21st September 2012 More information MDavelaar@verwey-jonker.nl www.habitact.eu