Homelessness and housing exclusion have reached crisis point in many European countries. National and local governments are attempting to solve the issue, and in some cities they have managed to find ways to do so. In the EU, the European Commission has launched a platform to monitor the situation. What we know from evidence is that preventing and ending homelessness requires an integrated strategy.
Christian Fillet, ESN's Chair and Deputy Director of the city of Bruges (Belgium), joined recently a discussion organised by the Red Cross EU office to highlight the role of public social services and the need for integrated and person-centred approaches to tackle homelessness effectively.
Identifying the driving factors behind homelessness
Most individuals do not suddenly become homeless. In fact, there is an intricate number of factors that force people into this situation. At the individual level, the family environment (abuse, conflicts, divorce) or personal issues (drug addiction, health conditions) might expose people to housing uncertainty. Other factors are related to structural deficiencies within the labour market, limited access to affordable housing, and low and inadequate income. To eradicate and prevent the further perpetuation of homelessness, a holistic approach is needed to address both groups of factors, as studies on the topic have also emphasised.
Groups at increased risks and trends
The risk of homelessness goes beyond stereotypes. Today, some of the groups most exposed to increased risks include migrants and individuals with a migrant background, marginalized adults and youth, former detainees who cannot return home, individuals with mental health challenges. Another alarming trend is the increase of the number of homeless people between 18 and 25 years old.
Challenges for an integrated approach in tackling homelessness
According to Christian Fillet, some of the major challenges for an integrated approach towards tackling homelessness include competition between different administrations, inadequate distribution of competences between authorities at national, regional and local levels, administrative burdens, lack of long-term vision and cooperation between service providers.
Covid-19 has added further obstacles to efforts to take an integrated approach. The pandemic has not only exacerbated inequality between different social groups, but has also increased insecurity and highlighted the urgency of guaranteeing targeted support.
Why a personalised approach?
There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution to combating and preventing homelessness. In addition to guaranteeing the basics such as secure living space, allowances for food and clothing, access to work and schooling, Christian Fillet emphasised the need for social services providers to offer personalised, long-term and sustained support underpinned by common values of empowerment, justice, equality, and the establishment of mutual trust.
An integrated approach in preventing and ending homelessness
Alfonso Lara-Montero, ESN’s CEO highlights that the EU platform is a welcome initiative which first should focus on coming up with a definition which is shared across all agencies involved with homelessness and then move on to work towards a monitoring framework that is widely accepted. The platform should study the role of integrated strategies in addressing homelessness. Housing services need to be part of an integrated strategy which also includes prevention, new housing, other homelessness services and involves health, social care and social services.
