March 2021
Welcome back to the FEANTSA Flash!
Things have been looking up in the fight against homelessness this March, with the long-awaited announcement of the European Platform on Combating Homelessness taking place, as well as commitments from Spain and Belgian city Leuven to eradicate homelessness. Needless to say, there is still plenty of hard work ahead of us, which continues with our calls to Member States and the Portuguese Presidency of the EC to commit to ending homelessness by 2030 at June’s Social Summit in Porto and to the Greek government to be more transparent in their recovery policies and, ultimately, protect homeless people and migrants. To find out more about our work this month, read on.
Read ahead:
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Join Cyndi Lauper for the Launch of Our Joint Report on LGBTIQ Homelessness
On April 28th FEANTSA will launch our joint report with ILGA-Europe & True Colours United. This report captures the key challenges homeless and LGBTIQ services face when working with LGBTIQ youth at risk of becoming homeless. During the launch we’ll have contributions from our Director Freek Spinnewijn, Commissioner Schmit, Cyndi Lauper and the European Parliament. Find out more and register here.
Training on Youth Homelessness and Mental Health
On May 6th & 7th FEANTSA is running a training on youth homelessness and mental health. The training will look at how services can respond to the mental health needs of young people experiencing homelessness. With expert input and sharing of best practices from across our membership this event will identify and map the needs of youth while also inspiring some practices you can adapt in your organisation! You can find more information here.
Capacity Building for ESF+ to fight Youth Homelessness
The ESF+ and renewed Youth Guarantee provides the opportunity to use European funds to support youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness linked to education, training and employment. This capacity building workshop, on April 26th, co-delivered with the European Youth Forum, will provide a practical overview of how to influence the development of national programmes and share practices from our membership that could be eligible for funding if your country adapts a national programme that includes youth homelessness. More information here.
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Last chance to apply: Ending Homelessness Awards deadline approaching fast
Do you have a project to be proud of that used European funds (ESF, ERDF, FEAD)? Apply to the Ending Homelessness Awards to be in with a chance of having your project recognised as a leading European project in Ending Homelessness and promoted at EU level in in a dedicated Handbook on Ending Homelessness and in a short film. Deadline 10th April. Find out more and apply here.
Questionnaire: identifying good practices in supporting destitute mobile EU citizens
FEANTSA is running a short 5-minute questionnaire to identify and collect existing good practices of services that support destitute mobile EU citizens across the EU and we would like to hear from you. As part of the selection process, we may contact certain projects for an interview to get to know better the practice. The information provided in this questionnaire and the interviews will be compiled into a report and disseminated with FEANTSA’s networks and during our future activities. Respond to the questionnaire.
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Submissions are now open for the 2021 Housing First Early Career Researcher Award!
Each year, the Housing First Europe Hub, together with the European Observatory on Homelessness, recognises a relevant research article on any Housing First area conducted in Europe by a recent graduate (<5 years).
Deadline for submissions is 28 June 2021. More information can be found on the Hub's website here.
News from the HR4Homelessness Project
Next in the series of Country Reports from HR4H on the availability of and access to Harm Reduction services is our Country report from Ireland. In Ireland, homelessness has increased substantially since 2013. A distinction is drawn between those experiencing long-term homelessness with often more complex needs and groups of people who have been in homelessness since a shorter period, of which many are families in emergency accommodation. People in homelessness were found to be much more likely to use drugs and to develop problematic drug use (compared to the domiciled population). Drug use can be a factor for becoming homeless or can also be commenced by people who are homeless as a coping mechanism. Drug use can also be exacerbated by homelessness.
Check out the Irish Country Report here.
Brighton and Hove adopts Homeless Bill of Rights
On the 25th March, Brighton and Hove City Council voted to adopt the Homeless Bill of Rights. In doing so, following in the steps of a number of European cities, including Barcelona, Gdansk and Villeurbanne, and becoming the first UK city to do so. The decision comes after several years of hard campaigning work from Brighton & Hove Housing Coalition, with support from Just Fair. Read more about the Bill here.
Open letter about the Greek Recovery and Resilience Plan: opacity and lack of participation
FEANTSA, alongside 70 other organisations (including several FEANTSA members), has signed an open letter about the Greek Recovery and Resilience Plan. The letter calls for more transparency in developing recovery policies, in particular with a view to supporting homeless people and migrants. Read the letter here.
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FEANTSA Report: The Impact of Covid-19 on Homeless Service Providers & Homeless People: The Migrant Perspective
With support from FEANTSA members who worked as homeless service providers we collected information on developments throughout the initial lockdown and the immediate period after the first wave of COVID-19. In this report, we present our findings on the measures adopted by several Member States with a focus on the situation of migrants experiencing homelessness. We also analyse the impact that this period has had on these homeless service providers and their staff. The second part of the report is a compilation of statements from migrants who have experienced homelessness in the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Cases are also presented where migrants have suffered job loss and homelessness, including unsafe housing caused by the crisis. Read our report.
Guide for developing effective gender-responsive support and solutions for women experiencing homelessness
Growing international evidence demonstrates that there is a complex, gender-specific dimension to women’s homelessness and a gender lens needs to be applied to any strategy that aims to prevent and to end homelessness for women. Applying a gender lens means acknowledging the specific challenges associated with gender and it should be included in the approach of any solution to women’s homelessness.
This guide shines a light on the nuances of women's paths into and experiences of homelessness so that effective gender-responsive support and solutions for women experiencing homelessness might be developed. Read and download the Guide here.
FEANTSA Report: Targeting energy efficiency renovation to improve housing conditions of the most vulnerable
How can we prevent the renovation wave from contributing to housing exclusion due to increased costs?
This report aims to highlight examples of successful targeted energy efficiency renovation towards vulnerable and lowest income groups. Its objective is to demonstrate how the Just Transition Mechanism and Renovation Wave should be targeted to become decisive instruments in the energy transition, ensuring the transition towards a climate-neutral economy will be a fair one. Read the report here.
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FioPSD Publish condensed English language version of their report The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Services for Homeless People in Italy
What has changed for the more than 55,000 homeless in the aftermath of the Lockdown and the responsible #iorestoacasa [I stay at home] appeal?
This is explained by a group of social researchers who interviewed over thirty referents of services aimed at homeless people in various Italian cities (Rome, Turin, Naples, Trento, Ancona, Ragusa, Cagliari).
The report "The impact of the pandemic on services for homeless people" brings to light the effects that the pandemic is producing on serious adult marginality and the new operation methods that many organizations have had to adopt. Read the report here.
Red FACIAM starts Impulsa, a program aimed to prevent youth homelessness
Impulsa will offer specific youth-oriented solutions to people between 18 and 28 years of age facing housing exclusion. In 2021 the program will provide 53 housing units and mentorships for up to 120 young people. Read more here.
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HogarSí launches FONDONEXiT and Primero H
FONDONEXiT is an initiative through which to make direct cash transfers to homeless people, the first of its kind in Spain. It seeks to facilitate access to autonomous housing for people who have suffered homelessness. Read more about the initiative.
Primero H is a project aimed at combatting homelessness using the Socimi investment vehicle formula. The Socimi, which will officially begin operating at the end of March, will start life with 170 homes for social rental. More about Primero H here.
ASSIS profile survey shows worrying data on women’s homelessness
If living on the street poses a real threat to the lives of homeless people, in the case of women this threat is even greater. According to the profile survey conducted among women cared for by ASSÍS during 2020, 64% of women surveyed report having suffered street violence and agoraphobia crimes compared to 52% in the case of men. Find the profile survey here.
Cymorth Cymru has launched its manifesto for the Senedd 2021 elections, calling on political parties to make a series of commitments to help end homelessness in Wales
The manifesto was developed following engagement with people using and delivering homelessness, housing and support services across Wales.
PRAKSIS has started working with GivingStreets, a smartphone application to make contactless donations
GivingStreets allows users to donate money to individuals or charities by scanning the recipient’s QR code, which can be printed.
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Announcement of the European Platform on Combating Homelessness
On 15 March, during the videoconference of Ministers of the Employment and Social Policy, Portuguese Minister for Employment, Solidarity, and Social Security Ana Mendes Godinho and European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit presented the upcoming European Platform on Combating Homelessness. Commissioner Schmit emphasised that homelessness has been gaining attention on the EU political agenda and is in fact an issue in practically all our Member States. Ending homelessness requires resolute action and cooperation of all interested stakeholders. Minister Godinho also highlighted the need to work together with civil society, social service providers and other stakeholders to have integrated strategies in place for tackling homelessness. To this end, they are inviting ministers to sign a joint declaration and support the launch of the Platform. Read FEANTSA’s reaction.
Commission Publishes European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan
On the 4th of March, the European Commission published the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan. FEANTSA welcomes the announced launch of the European Platform on Combating Homelessness in the second quarter of this year but regrets the missed opportunity for a target on homelessness in the Action Plan, a fitting sub-target under the headline target to reduce the number of people of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by 15 million by 2030.
We count on the Member States and the Portuguese Presidency of the EC to show courage and commit to ending homelessness by 2030 at the Social Summit in Porto. Read our full response.
Proposal for #EUChildGuarantee includes homeless children as priority target group
On 24 March, the European Commission published the proposal for a Council Recommendation establishing the European Child Guarantee. FEANTSA welcomes the reference to children experiencing homelessness and severe housing deprivation as a priority group and the appeal to Member States to assess and revise their social housing policies and housing benefit systems to better cater for the needs of vulnerable families. However, we regret that the proposal endorses the provision of emergency shelters for children. Read our full reaction here.
The Council of the European Union Recommendation for Roma Equality, Inclusion and Participation could represent a step further in ending homelessness among Roma communities
On the 12 of March, the Council of the European Union adopted the Recommendation for Roma Equality, Inclusion and Participation which will contribute to strengthening the commitment across Member States to achieving inclusion of Roma communities in important areas of education, employment, health and housing.
FEANTSA welcomes the Recommendation which contains measures to support Roma facing homelessness across the EU and for including these persons in mainstream support services. The EU Council also makes references in the Recommendation to Roma who exercise their freedom of movement right within the EU to take up seasonal or short-term employment and who end up in vulnerable situations, calling for mechanisms of support in these situations. Read our response.
In Spain Congress urges the Government to eradicate homelessness
The Plenary of Congress has approved a non-law proposal on the eradication of homelessness. The initiative urges the Government, within the framework of its powers and in collaboration with the autonomous communities, to take eight actions towards eradicating homelessness. Find out more.
High link between financial strain, mental illness and homelessness in US
Interesting research (USA) shows that financial strain accounts for 39% of link between mental illness and homelessness. Important insight that should inform policy & practice. Follow the link for the free download.
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In Poland we're managing homelessness, not ending it: In 80% an apartment solves the problem
Activist Kacper Kolibabski wants to convince Polish people that the real solution to the homelessness crisis is a flat, not a shelter. The experience of the "Housing First" programs in the world is that 80% success rate. Kacper talks to with Julia Wygnańska, vice-president of the First Mieszkanie Polska Foundation and coordinator of the "Apartment First" model for Warsaw in the project of the Co-operation Fund Foundation. Read the interview here.
'Homeless people: the Flemish government is building in extra barriers for those who are already struggling'
'The Flemish government, competent for housing, welfare and poverty reduction, must take up the gauntlet and face the complex reality of homelessness,' write members of Leuven council Bieke Verlinden and Lies Corneillie. The city calls on federal and Flemish ministers to pull out all the stops, in word and in deed: at the high-level policy tables and in the field. Knack reports.
A mobile surgery has vaccinated 300 homeless people in Manchester in the past 3 weeks
The dedicated service operating from a van has reached 300 homeless people in the past week. FEANTSA has recently asked governments and local authorities ensure this hard to reach group, often without mobile phones and leading itinerant lifestyles, are prioritised and reached in vaccine strategies. The success of the outreach service in Manchester is based on its local and flexible vaccine delivery, building vaccine confidence by engaging with homelessness staff and removal administrative barriers, a number of approaches FEANTSA recommends for protecting and priotising homeless people in vaccination strategies. The Guardian reports.
FAZ investigates scale and nature of homelessness in Germany (and EU)
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung one of most influential newspapers in Europe - publishes in-depth article on the scale and nature of homelessness in Germany and the EU. Read it here.
Thousands of refugees at imminent risk of homelessness in Greece because of the end to EU financial support
"Discharge" from asylum accommodation after obtaining refugee status has become a prominent route into homelessness, and not only in Greece... The Guardian reports.
Advocates urge prioritisation of single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine for harder to reach homeless people in the US
The single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires normal refrigeration, which makes it easier to transport and distribute than the Moderna vaccine, for instance, which needs to be stored at very cold temperatures. The one-dose shot could be critical to get to populations who often have limited access to transport and mobile phones and can’t easily make appointments to get vaccinated. The Huffington post reports.
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Homeless people in Barcelona organize in a union and demand real solutions from the institutions
At the presentation of the Barcelona Homeless People's Union, convened Thursday 18th March in Plaça Sant Jaume, the participants demanded real solutions from the institutions, specifically from the Generalitat and Barcelona City Council. The organization's spokesman, Albert Gort, has described the aid of the council as "temporary" and that of the Government as "almost non-existent". Publico has more.
In Ireland two-thirds in long-term mortgage arrears risk losing homes, banks say
The news comes as an estimated 37,000 borrowers face having their loans classed as being in default following extended Covid-19 repayment breaks. There are calls for these breaks to be extended for as long as the Covid crisis continues. Read more in the Irish times.
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