preventing young migrants becoming homeless

Preventing Young Migrants

Become Homeless

-Spain-

Dámaris Barajas

Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:

key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness

8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

Introductory Data

Migrant population growth in Spain:

18% of Spain residents of 16-24 years are

born abroad.

10 Main nationalities: Romania, Morocco,

Ecuador, UK, Colombia, Argentina,

Germany, France, Peru, Bolivia.

Average age residents 35. (Spanish 42.8).

15% of migrants are <16 (exc. Morocco,

with 29% of residents under 16).

Most economic migrants worked in labour

intensive sectors with high demand of

unskilled labour force: Construction sector,

services sector, domestic work. Many

stopped studies during property boom years

and are now unemployed.

Unemployment is substantially higher

among foreign-born young people than

among native Spaniards (28% compared

with 21%).

Severe poverty affects more than 3 million

people in Spain (doubled with crisis)

Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:

key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness


Non

nationals

Total Rate

2000 923.879 40.499.790 2.28%

2005 3.730.610 44.108.530 8.45%

2013 5.736.258 47.265.321 12.13%

80% lost their jobs as a

result of crisis

20% recent young

migrants, not yet entered the labour market; could not find their first job.

51.9% unemployed

migrants

25-45

years old.

Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe: key

policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness


Housing situation in Spain

Over 3 million empty houses (used and new)– 13.8% of existing

housing stock

Nonexistence of public housing stock for rent + Shortage of

affordable homes for rent

Council housing scarce (Government subsidized) (1%)

Oversized production of private housing in relation with offer

Rental prices are similar to property price (mortgage)

Current housing market in Spain (nationals) – property oriented.

Reasons: public policies rather than cultural habits. market-

interest-shaped habits.

2011 Non nationals Nationals

Rental 71.4% 11%

Property 28.7% 83%




Housing policy Spain

Incentives to investment in Construction, no social

policies to guarantee access to housing rights. Inadequate housing policies.

Young migrants can not meet requirements

Low or inexistent housing supply for social rent

Crisis and reductions/cuts in housing allowances and subsidies

Speculation in housing and mortgages

Abuse of uninformed population

Job loss made lease/mortgage payments and interest rates unaffordable

Abusive prices for migrants.

Discrimination in access

Higher prices

Crossed guarantees




To consider

Housing and employment are the main

conditioning factors for full inclusion.

Access to housing is at the same time

conditioned by economic and labour facts.

Right to housing vs. obligation to own/rent

a house: family reunification, access to

health*, education, benefits.




Vulnerability and Exclusion E

co

no

mic

al a

nd

La

bo

ur

Scarce and unstable income or inexistent.

Low paid jobs.

Remittances

Job loss leads to house loss

Can not afford living (basic needs, housing, health)

High level of indebtedness

High economical pressure for administrative processes (permits, family reunification, etc.)

Single mothers with barriers to job access.

Adm

inis

trative a

nd L

abour

situation

Administrative barriers and difficulties to access residence permits

Language barriers and lack of information

Less working experience, or inexistent. No labour contract, low salaries and exploitation.

Low qualification or impossible to validate

Lack of knowledge of information and assessment structures, tax system, etc.

Housin

g

High prices, no contracts.

Discrimination by landlords, neighbours and society – abuse and ghettoization

Evictions, delay in payments, no contracts – can not afford expenses

Ignorance about housing resources and related laws. No access to public aids for housing (undocumented, no more aids.)

Overcrowded houses, unhealthy and wrecked. Unstable

Hea

lth

an

d P

sych

oso

cia

l

Access to Public Health System denied (September 2012). Lack of information. Outbreak of old diseases ( tuberculosis, gastrointestinal parasites)

Lack of healthy habits and hygiene.

Drugs

Ulysses Syndrome

Feeling of social failure

Stress, anxiety, mental unstableness due to economic situation. Mental disorders

Fam

ily a

nd s

ocia

l re

lationship

s

Conflicts in family, friends and social environment

Frustration and low self esteem. Family disorders due to stress and situation

Weak or inexistent social networks

Family disruptions due to undesired return to home countries or member of family leaving home for job hunting in a third country.

Neighbourhood conflicts from racist origin

Families hosted by other family members or friends. (hidden)

Evicted or at risk as a result of mortgage payment failure

and / or rentals after job loss + inability to access new one.

(58% evictions in leased houses)

Families who are living in a hostel(granted) or a shelter.

Families living in sublease because of the lack of income.

Overcrowded homes with several families sharing space.

Living in a house that does not meet optimal living conditions

and have no financial resources to move out.

Seasonal workers - settlements (agricultural)

Families in a vulnerable position because they must leave

home due to a family rupture.

Families living rough (scarce), occupying abandoned or

wrecked buildings or warehouses or in camps – temporary

farm jobs.

Victims of domestic violence.

Live-in Domestic workers who lost their job.

Mena / ExMena

Unemployed and with no subsidies or with State allowance

(426 € max.)

Residential status - attended

in Europe: key policy and practice in addressing youth

homelessness


Migration process

*Failure*

1. Arrival: Staying

at friends’

2. Renting

bed/ bedroom

3. Renting house

4. Buying house

5. Job loss/

Eviction




Homeless young migrants

Low employability: Administrative, social, cultural, economic, and language barriers.

Ever-increasing administrative burdens, economic and social reasons force them to accept

unstable and low paid jobs.

Suffer higher unemployment rates

Job loss makes them lose residence permits – irregular status –No rights

Unstable/ insufficient / inexistent income, or can not prove it -lack of contract or pay slip

Difficult access to credits to buy or rent (guarantees)

Weak family/social networks

Risk of entering crime circles for survival

Stereotypes and stigmatization: Lack of lease contract or reject to lease them by landlords

and state agents

Lack of knowledge about resources and assessment services.

Ignorance about abusive clauses in rent and mortgage contracts

Minors (MENA): Under guardianship of Government Institutionalization. Forced to

leave at 18. Early leave with autonomy process interrupted.




Unaccompanied Minors

Administrative barriers – not always get work permits

before leaving care (1 year contract needed).

Lack of family/social networks – or a past of hardship,

failure and breakup

Unable to complete educational itinerary once they

become 18 – low qualification

No access to employment – no experience

Insufficient transitional homes

Health and drugs problems

Not ready to face living on their

own at 18

Guardianship too long prevents whole emancipation




What we do

Housing programs (State funded) Temporary Accommodation

Access to Decent Housing

Mediation and Support*

Habitability

Employment programs

Education and Mediation services

Advocacy and Participation of Women

Legal and information services

PREVENT HOMELESS-

NESS

EMPLOYMENT

HOUSING LEGAL &

INFORMATION

EDUCATION & MEDIATION




Red Acoge Housing Programs

Temporary Accommodation

General immigrant population (families, single

adults, etc.)

Specific resources for :

Women with children

Victims of gender violence

MENA (Unaccompanied minors)

Juvenile under Care (Barcelona)- Justice funded

Young migrants (mostly ex MENA)




Our resources

Houses

Rented (private sector)

Property transferred

Temporary transfer

Owned

Independent Partially

supervised

Regular supervision

Guardianship (Mena)

Residence agreement




Social Inclusion and Stability

Global approach

Dignity Autonomy and Responsibility

Guiding principles




Intervention Process - Methodology

• Identify resources, needs, possible entry or referral to other resources

I: RECEPTION AND EARLY DIAGNOSIS.

• Joint valuation of priorities, objectives and activities to entry the Housing Program.

• Agreeing entry conditions and basic commitment.

II: PROPOSAL AND DEVELOPMENT OF

INDIVIDUAL ACTION PLAN

• Agreed schedule. Work process design (employment, training, healthy habits,…)

• Encourage stewardship of users, allow necessary means to ensure sufficient autonomy

III: DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF

INDIVIDUALIZED ACTION PLAN (PII)

• Exit and autonomy follow up (negotiation of time for leaving. Not fixed. Depending of circumstances and chances to access a house on their own).

IV: COMPLETION OF THE INTERVENTION.




Basic information and advice

in rights and public aids to

improve access to decent

housing

Housing pool and visits to

target houses

Workshops and meetings to

inform about rights

Community sensitization

Mediation with tenants,

landlords and banks. Advice

for contracts conditions

The program aims to improve the

living conditions of households

entering the itinerary by inspection

of health and safety conditions

and provision of basic furniture

and appliances. It includes basic

repairs and solutions to hygiene

and sanitary conditions.

Negotiation with landlords

Sensitization activities

Network of appliances and

household goods providers

Visits and inspections to houses

Access to housing Habitability Program




Housing programs. 2013 numbers (I) 56,6% Africans., 22,3% Europeans, 15,2%

Americans

57,8% with over 5 years residence.

78,6% homeless users are under 35

81,5% are men, 18,5% women. 17% minors

30 victims of gender violence (mostly with

children)

29 young men risking exclusion

Mostly single, or if they are married, their

families live in home country (50% have

children in home country), have returned or

migrated to a third country

Primary studies in home country mostly,

medium level of Spanish.

Experience in agricultural sector,

construction, low paid and qualified jobs.

Over 75% of users have residence permit.

25% only passport.

621 people hosted

31 resources

14 locations 1941

petitioners informed

231 places




Housing programs. 2013 numbers (II)

Access to Decent Housing,

1981 people oriented

813 supported in access to public aid

278 punctual economical aids for basic housing maintenance

314 people access to a housing through mediation services

72 people access to revolving funds*

514 follow ups to supervise residential status after intervention

Habitability (5 small towns. 1 being Lorca, specially affected by

earthquake 2011)

250 people informed about their house conditions

155 inspection visits

11 repair and reforms in houses, improving habitability conditions

27 particular donations of goods and furniture for 90 different houses

98 follow ups in houses participating in the program




Demands

Growth of young migrants demanding services at Red Acoge,

mainly employment and education/training areas.

However, statistics* show average homeless age is 42,7 in 2011 (37.9 in 2005)

Increase of Hidden homelessness:

Living with friends

Living in abandoned or wrecked buildings or warehouses

Living in inadequate housing/overcrowded/unhealthy/insecure

Living in slums

Homeless young migrants are attended at specific resources in

various locations. 3 profiles:

Minors – Under State guardianship

Former supervised minors – Transitional accommodation (Autonomy)

Young singles and families

Unsuccessful Emancipation - Jobless and homeless.

No income, no jobs, frustrated migration process, frustrated emancipation and

autonomy – Target: avoid homelessness and restore autonomy




Challenges

Minors and dependence of State

Institutions

Early emancipation from institutions

regardless of their autonomy process

Insufficient properties for lease in public

sector (council housing)

Insufficient income to afford high lease

prices

Substandard housing /settlements

Family breakdown and single mothers

Health and psychological problems

associated to their migrations process, not

approached correctly

Difficulties to complete medical treatments,

being out of the National Health System,

and with no reference home.




Final note More professional qualification

programs needed, specially for

minors

Training and employment – Work

practice programs are successful

for full labour inclusion

Minors in two locations: Córdoba

and Barcelona. They join

transitional houses when 18 and

most of them succeed in their

autonomy. Some of them leave

Spain and try in other EU

countries

Transitional houses prove to

prevent them from entering crime

circles or ending up homeless




Thank you!

preventing young migrants becoming homeless

Government & Nonprofit