Bill Edgar (Dundee University) Barbara Illsley (Dundee University)

European Commission

MPHASISMutual Progress on Homelessness through

Advancing and Strengthening Information Systems

National Seminar Norway

Oslo, June 13th 2008

European Commission

Purpose of Mphasis

Measuring Homelessness Report– ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_inclusion/

docs/2007

Improve Capacity – National Authorities in data collection

on homelessness

Mphasis Approach– Mutual Learning / Practice Strand– Research Strand

European Commission

Seminar Purpose

PROGRESS - Social Inclusion Strategy– Mutual Learning– Mobilising all actors

Commission Expectations– Concrete Outputs and Outcomes

National Seminars– Agreed outcome statement on actions

required to improve data collection on homelessness

European Commission

Purpose of Data Collection

Strategy Aims to Data needed for

Prevent homelessness people vulnerable to eviction people who leave an institution with no home

Tackle the causes of homelessness Data reflecting different pathways

Reduce the level of homelessness Scale and prevalence of homelessness

Reduce the negative effects on homeless people

Longitudinal analysis / repeat homelessness

Ensure that formerly homeless people can sustain permanent independent housing

Number who gain access to permanent or supported accommodation and remain there

European Commission

Homeless Pathways and Data Sources

CAUSES

STRUCTURAL

INSTITUTIONAL

RELATIONSHIP

PERSONAL

FACTORS

Poverty

Unemployment

Housing

Institutional Living

Foster / State Care

Prison Experience

Armed Forces

Abusive relationship

(childhood)

Abusive relationship

(with a partner)

Family Breakdown

(death or separation)

Mental IllnessLearning Difficulty

Drug Dependency

Alcohol Dependency

TRIGGERS

Eviction

Discharge

Leaving family home

Fleeing violent relationship

Coping with living alone

Illness episode

Support breakdown

Substance Misuse

DATA SOURCES

Housing

Judiciary

Social Welfare

Surveys

Health Services

Penal System

Service Providers

European Commission

Data Collection Overview

Homeless

Homeless persons surveys  France, Spain, Italy

Service Providers / Client Registers

Netherlands, Ireland

Social Welfare / Support

Official Registers of Services Czech, Hungary, Latvia

Regulation Denmark

Funding UK

Housing Allocation UK

Needs Assessment Finland, Ireland, Scotland

European Commission

Graph SlideTypology of Living Situations

Housing Units

Types of housing

Collective Living Quarters

Other

Living Situations

Conventional

dwelling

Non-conventional

dwelling

Institutional

Building

Non-institutional

Building

Public Spaces

external spaces

European Commission

Operational Definition

Operational Category Living Situation

1 People Living Rough 1 Public space / external space

2 People in emergency accommodation 2 Overnight Shelters

3 People living in accommodation for the homeless

3

4

5

6

Homeless Hostels

Temporary Accommodation

Transitional Supported Accommodation

Women’s shelter or refuge accommodation

4 People living in institutions 7

8

Health care institutions

Penal institutions

5 People living in non-conventional dwellings due to lack of housing

9

10

11

Mobile homes

Non-conventional building

Temporary structure

6 People living temporarily with family and friends

12 Conventional housing, but not the person’s usual place of residence

European Commission

Homelessness Information Strategy

Driven by Strategy Definition of homelessness and

housing exclusion Review of information sources Service Provider Database Core Variables Definition Client Register information Administrative Data / Survey Data

European Commission

Homelessness System Indicators

Input Indicators– Threatened with eviction– Leaving institutions– Children leaving care

System Indicators– Number of People receiving services– Time spent in the system– Flow of people through the system

Output Indicators– People Re-housed (with/without

support)

European Commission

Homelessness Accommodation System

European Commission

Supply and User Statistics

Directory of Services– Bed-spaces– Prevalence occupancy rate

Client Registers– Occupancy Level– Turnover– Duration

Profile and Trends– Profile Demography– Pathways Profile– Administrative Geographies

European Commission

Outcome Statement

Homelessness (Prevention) Strategy– What are the Data Needs of the strategy

Existing System– What Gaps exist / Reliability of Data?– Is definition of core variables agreed by actors?

Barriers– EG Data Protection issues?

– Ways of overcoming them?

Information Strategy– Is Responsibility / Governance clear?– Is there a mechanism for review?– What is the Action Plan for Implementation?