Care for the Homeless

Homelessness and Quality of Social Services

Debate around quality of social services has intensified in recent years. Increasingly, questions are being asked as to how the quality of social services can best be guaranteed, how vulnerable users can make informed choices on the type of service they need, how training of social workers can best be ensured,and how social service providers can adapt to increasingly competitive markets.Much of the debate relates to how and whether standardisation can be reconciled with the special role of social services in the protection of fundamental rights, ensuring social cohesion and social protection. This debate is gaining an increasingly European dimension. Although cross-border provision of social services is still limited, it will increasingly call for a greater level of service comparability. To this end, a better definition at European level, of the services at stake is required. This edition of 'Homeless in Europe', the tri-annual publication of the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA), explores the issue of homelessness and social services from a European perspective.

Hoog Catharijne as an example for safe entrepreneurship

The nuisance in the Hoog Catharijne shopping centre in Utrecht has decreased sharply and the number of offences has declined due to collaboration on safety policy among the different interest groups.

RAUXA: Integral treatment of the chronic homeless - Barcelona, ES

The programme promotes social inclusion of the homeless through alcoholism rehabilitation.

Permanent housing for homeless people – ExWoSt research programme and follow-up investigation

Analysis and documentation of innovative approaches of housing supply for homeless households and people with selected model projects.

Relief work for homeless children 2005

The Court of Audit carried out research in 2002, 2003, 2004 and now in 2005, into relief work for homeless children. In contrast to previous studies, the focus this time is not on bringing up to date the numbers of homeless children or on the reception facilities for homeless children, but on the provision of information and the joint agreements between provinces, municipalities and relief agencies.

Measuring Quality of Services and Provision in Homelessness

The issue of the provision of quality services, which are effective in addressing the needs of homeless people, is key aspect of the EU strategy to combat poverty and social exclusion. In this context, understanding the barriers to access to decent and affordable housing has direct relevance to the prevention of homelessness for those households who are vulnerable to exclusion from the housing market or who live in insecure or inadequate housing.

Rauxa: Integral treatment of chronic homeless people, Barcelona