Housing Exclusion of the Elderly in Slovenia

European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN THE NEW

EUROPEAN CONTEXT

ENHR

Housing exclusion of the elderly in Slovenia

Maša Filipovič Hrast,

University of Ljubljana

Faculty of Social Sciences


EUROPEAN CONTEXTENHR

Social and Housing exclusion Social exclusion is a blend of multidimensional and mutually reinforcing process of deprivation, associated with a progressive dissociation from social milieus, resulting in the isolation of individuals and groups from the mainstream of opportunities society has to offer (Vleminckx and Berghman 2001) Characteristic:

- Simultanius exclusion from different areas

- Access to main social institutions is limited

- Exclusion persists over time

Main areas of exclusion:-

Democratic and legal system-

Social welfare system; -

education; -

Work and working conditions; -

Housing; -

Health and health care; -

social networks



Housing exclusion dimension as developed in the ETHOS concept:-

Inadequate housing

- Insecure housing

Important link between housing and other areas of exclusion (e.g. poverty, health care, social networks) Indicators of housing exclusion:

- accomodation without shower/bath- overcrowding- high housing costs- unfit dwelling (damp, dark, ...) - insecure tenure



Housing exclusion of the elderly

Elderly in Slovenia predominantly owners (without mortgage) - secure housing tenure

However: High shares of at-risk-of poverty among elderly Particularly vulnerable elderly single women

Consequences: possible housing exclusion of elderly Low income does not enable upkeep of dwelling; ownership as

burden; unfit housing situations; Elderly in rental sector





At risk of poverty rate by age

Age

2005 2006 2007 2008 Total 12,1 11,7 11,5 12,3

65+

20,4 20 19,4 21,3

0-15

11,9 11,8 11,7 11,5

16-64 10,4 9,8 9,8 10,5

Source: SURS, 2010.

Material deprivation by age

2005 2006 2007 2008

Total 14,7 14,5 14,3 16,9

0-17 13,6 12,4 12,7 13,9

18-64 14,2 14,1 13,9 16,9

65+ 18,6 18,5 18,4 20,5

Vir: SURS, 2010



At-risk-of poverty rate by household type

2005 2006 2007 2008

Total 12,1 11,7 11,5 12,3

Households without children 15,6 14,9 14,5 15,8

Single 44,1 42,5 39,4 41,9

single, male 35,1 37,9 33 37,3

Single, female 48,5 44,7 42,6 44,3

single 65 + 44,8 45 43,8 47,2

single 65 +, male 26 34,5 25,5 23

single 65 +, female 48,8 47,1 47,1 51,4

Couple without children, under 65 11,8 12,5 12,6 11,2

Couple without children, 65 + 12,1 12,4 12,3 15,3

Households with children 9,9 9,3 9,5 9,9

Single parent households 21,4 22,1 28,6 28,8

Source: SURS, 2010.



Housing exclusion of elderly: Lack of basic amenities (indoor flush toilet,

bath/shower), higher among older, in particular those aged 75+

Housing costs present a higher share of income among 65+

Very high at-risk-of poverty rate among older renters



At risk of poverty rate by tenure

2005 2006 2007 2008

Total 12,1 11,7 11,5 12,3

Owner or user 10,8 11,1 10,4 11,4 Total

Rent 25,7 21,9 25,7 25,2

Total 11,9 11,5 11,3 11,6

Owner or user 9,7 10,8 10 10,2 0-17

Rent 29,1 21,8 24,7 26,7

Total 10,4 9,8 9,8 10,5

Owner or user 8,9 9,1 8,7 9,6 18-64

Rent 24,1 20,4 24 21,7

Total 20,4 20 19,4 21,3

Owner or user 19,8 19,5 18,4 20,3 65+

Rent 29,5 32,3 40,6 49,4

Source: SURS, 2010.







Graph 1: Share of persons without indor flush toliet by age (Slovenia, 2005)

Source: Stropnik et al., 2010.



Graph 2: Share of persons without indoor bathroom or shower by age (Slovenia 2005)

Source: Stropnik et al., 2010





Qualitative research Qualitative reasearch in 2009

of poor elderly people and their coping strategies

Role of housing – as a coping strategy and as a dimension of exclusion

30 in-depth interviews with vulnerable elderly people

Project Poverty and material deprivation of elderly, financed by Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs and Slovene Research Agency



Housing situation as ‘source’ of exclusion Problem of size of dwelling Problem of age of dwelling (need of

renovation) Problem of high housing costs Problem of location of dwelling

distance from infrastracture, transport... also source of inclusion (community help)!



Results of analysis Housing as part of coping strategies:

Passive strategy of coping Limiting expenses (e.g. warming only one room in

house, ...) Limiting repears (e.g. Not repearing leaking roof), Limiting investments (e.g. not renovating old

bathroom)



Housing as part of coping strategies: Active strategy of coping

Sharing a house (with family members) Sharing housing expenses with family members self-provision (e.g. collecting wood in forrest for

heating)



Conclusions Housing as a resource to prevent social exclusion

Possible also use of housing as an asset to reduce exclusion (e.g. through moving, change of dwelling, ...) or other means (policies of changing ownership to ‘renting’ status)- Not found, limitations of research

Housing exclusion as a ‘choice’ to prevent social

exclusion in other areas?



References Vleminckx, K, Berghman, J. (2001): Social exclusion and the welfare state. In Mayes,

D.G., Berghman, J., Salais, R. (eds): Social exclusion and European Policy. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

Stropnik, N (ur.), Kump, N, Filipovič Hrast, M, Hlebec, V, Vezovnik A and , Kavčič M (2010): Revščina in materialna deprivacija starejšega prebivalstva. (Poverty and material deprivation of elderly population) Ljubljana: Inštitut za ekonomska raziskovanja.

SURS - Statistični urad RS (2010): Statistični portal SI-STAT: Kazalniki dohodka in revščine. Dostopno preko http://www.stat.si/pxweb/Database/Dem_soc/08_zivljenjska_raven/08627_EU_SILC/08627_EU_SILC.asp, 14. 7. 2010.

European Commission. Eurostat. The social situation in the European Union 2009. Luxembourg. Publications office of EU 2010.

Hlebec, V., Kavčič, M., Filipovič Hrast M., Vezovnik, A., Trbanc, M. (forthcomming): Samo da bo denar in zdravje: življenje starih revnih ljudi (Only that there will be mony and health: Life of poor elderly) Ljubljana: Faculty of Social Sciences

Eurobarometer (2010): Report. Poverty and Social exclusion. February 2010. Special Eurobarometer 321. DG Employment. Brussels: TNS Opinion and Social.

Business

Housing Exclusion of the Elderly in Slovenia