Barbara Illsley (University of Dundee UK) Volker Busch-Geertsema (GISS, Germany)

European Commission

MPHASISMutual Progress on Homelessness through

Advancing and Strengthening Information Systems

National Seminar Poland

Warsaw, December 5th 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 forPrevent 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

CAUSESSTRUCTURAL

INSTITUTIONAL

RELATIONSHIP

PERSONAL

FACTORSPoverty

UnemploymentHousing

Institutional LivingFoster / State CarePrison ExperienceArmed ForcesAbusive relationship(childhood)

Abusive relationship(with a partner)Family Breakdown(death or separation)Mental IllnessLearning DifficultyDrug DependencyAlcohol 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

HomelessHomeless 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

dwellingInstitutional

Building

Non-institutional

Building

Public Spaces external spaces

European Commission

Operational Definition

Operational Category Living Situation1 People Living Rough 1 Public space / external space2 People in emergency

accommodation2 Overnight Shelters

3 People living in accommodation for the homeless

3456

Homeless HostelsTemporary AccommodationTransitional Supported AccommodationWomen’s shelter or refuge accommodation

4 People living in institutions

78

Health care institutionsPenal institutions

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

91011

Mobile homesNon-conventional buildingTemporary 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

Core Variables

Test usability of Core Variables in all MPHASIS countries Demographic characteristic (age and gender), Nationality and migration background (country of

birth), Composition of homeless households, Accommodation situation (immediately before

service period and at time of data collection), Duration of (current) homelessness, Reasons for (last) homelessness.

Common understanding? Data available? Harmonisation possible? Amendments necessary?

Obstacles for implementation of missing variables and possible solutions

European Commission

Outcome Statement

Homelessness Strategy Is there any such strategy? What are the data needs of strategy / policies? Are there any plans for regular monitoring? How can an operational definition of homelessness

be developed and used? Existing Systems

National/regional databases of services set up? Client register systems installed and used for

providing more continuous information? What gaps exist / Reliability of data? Is definition of core variables agreed by actors?

European Commission

Outcome Statement Barriers

How can data protection issues be addressed? Is funding adequate / sustainable? How can barriers be overcome?

Information Strategy Is responsibility / governance clear? Is there a mechanism for review? What is the action plan for implementation?

National Action Agreement of outcome statement and action to

progress data collection Sharing progress and information from national

meetings and MPHASIS website www.trp.dundee.ac.uk/research/mphasis/

Report back to final MPHASIS conference in September 2009