From managing to ending homelessness in Europe: a guide for policy makers
Homelessness constitutes a major challenge for policy-makers throughout Europe. Many localities have been able to realise important improvements in their services for homeless people, and this guide provides an overview of all the priorities and components that successful strategies contain. An integrated and pragmatic approach to the issue is of central importance: to be effective, strategies must be adapted to fit the realities of local contexts. The strategies must be backed up by policies relating to housing, employment, health and education.
Focussing on five main areas of concern yields the greatest results
This guide has been developed by FEANTSA, the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless. It is the major European network that focuses exclusively on homelessness at European level. The guide presents five main goals that strategies to end homelessness should contain:
- No one sleeping rough;
- No one living in emergency accommodation for longer than is an ‘emergency’;
- No one living in transitional accommodation longer than is required for successful move-on;
- No one leaving an institution without housing options;
- No young people becoming homeless as a result of the transition to independent living.
These goals serve to focus homeless strategies on pragmatic
objectives, making targets realistic and actually measurable. They
also concern the largest proportion of homeless people in most
countries.
Clear sub-targets promote success
The five main targets described above are subdivided into sections that clearly suggest what can be done in order to achieve the stated goal. The handbook draws on many examples of approaches from across Europe that are rising to the challenge of ending homelessness. These cases can inspire new policy options. The fifth goal is for instance subdivided into four issues:
- Recognising the vulnerability of young people;
- Early intervention;
- Helping young people access appropriate housing;
- Supporting young people to maintain housing.
The annex offers testimonies from professionals involved in
developing homeless strategies in different countries. It also
contains a toolkit for developing an integrated strategy to tackle
homelessness.
Contact
Feantsa office
Telephone: 0032 2 538 66 69
E-mail: information@feantsa.org
Publication Date
2010
Document Type
Policy Document
- Rating:
Rated 0 time(s)