3' Profile of homelessness in Flanders Some results of a survey study

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3. Profile of homelessnessin FlandersSome
results of a survey study
Gerard Van Menxel, Steunpunt Algemeen
Welzijnswerk Feantsa Working Group Statistics
and Indicators, Brussels, 28 May 2004
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Survey on the profile of the homeless

• Summary of the study see appendix 3
• Contents
• Profile and evolution since 1982
• Risk factors for homelessness
• A process of dissaffiliation and loss of secure
  housing
• The care for the homeless
• Opinions on causes and solutions

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Profile and evolution 1982-2002 Still a young
population

• Slightly older but the age group 2130 years
  still represents 40
• Median age 30 in 1982 35 in 2002
• -30 -9 30-50 10 50 stable
• Older population in supported accomodation
  compared to hostels

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Profile and evolution 1982-2002 Feminisation

• Strong feminisation
• 1982 1 woman in 4 2002 1 in 3
• 50 of the female population is less than 30
  years old
• More victims of domestic violence
• Fewer women in supported accomodation and more in
  hostels/refuges

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Profile and evolution 1982-2002 Globalisation

• Belgian 91 in 1982 85 in 2002
• Other nationalities 9 in 1985 15 in 2002
• Predominant country of origin Marocco, mostly
  women
• Migrants 2002
• Women 24
• Men 9

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Profile and evolution 1982-2002 More broken
families

• Single
• 66 in 1982 57 in 2002
• More men are single
• Reduction entirely due to female population (43
  in 2002)
• Divorced
• Legally divorced 13 in 1982 20 in 2002
• 34 women living seperated from their husband
• 85 women are accompagnied by their children

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Risk factorsA problematic childhood

• Many homeless grew up in problematic families
• Larger families than average (50 with 4 children
  or more)
• Low SES of parents (63 lower working class both
  for mothers and fathers)
• Multiproblem families
• Relational problems between parents and/or
  children 40
• Loss of one or both of the parents 28
• Parental alcohol addiction 18
• Violence between parents 11

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Risk factorsA problematic childhood

• Problems experienced by the homeless person
  during his youth
• 22 grew up in youth institutions
• 22 had conflicts with parents or family
• 19 was addicted to alcohol or drugs early in
  life
• 11 was a victim of sexual abuse or other forms
  of violence
• 8 had psychological problems as a child

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Risk factorsSocio-economic positioneducation

• A very low level of education
• Slightly improved since 1982 (shift from basic
  schooling to lower technical schooling, 50
  (lower for men than for women)
• 10 was in Special needs education
• Only 5 succeeded in higher education

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Risk factorsSocio-economic positionNo access to
the labour market

• A very high unemployment rate
• Almost 100 for the homeless on arrival in a
  centre
• During the stay 20 finds work (24 men 16
  women)
• Only 1 in 4 have of them have a normal job 3
  in 4 are in employment schemes or supported
  employment for people with special needs
• No improvement since 1982
• Economic conjuncture has no influence on the
  jobopportunities of the homeless (social
  exclusion)

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Risk factorsSocio-economic positiondependency
from social security

• Income (most important source of)
• Work 12 in 2004 25 in 1982!
• Unemployment or health benefits 45 in 2004 28
  in 1982!
• Minimum subsistence income (CPAS) 26 in 2004,
  status quo since 1982
• No (official) source of income 10 in 1982 15
  in 2004!
• Debts
• In 2004 60 has debts in 1982 this was only
  25

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Risk factorsHealth

• 75 of the homeless population faces health
  problems
• In all age groups and for men as well as for
  women
• Exclusively psychological or psychiatric problems
  (50) (higher for women)
• Fysical or mentally handicapped 28
• Chronic or life threatening disease 26

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Risk factorsLiving in institutions

• 2 in 3 homeless persons stayed in an
  instititution at some point in their lives (youth
  27, psychiatry 34, prison 33)
• For men this is 74, for women only 33
• Evolution 1982-2004
• Youth institutions 49 in 2004, 27 in 1982
• Psychiatry 34 in 2004, 23 in 1982
• Detention centres - 28 in 2004, 52 in 1982
• Residents now in supported accomodation stayed
  more in institutions than current residents in
  hostels

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Risk factorsIn summary

• Homelessness appears as process of
• Social exclusion in all areas of life
• Dissaffiliation and loss of social networks
• Institutionalisation

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The care for the homelesssome elements

• Former place of residence
• Readmittance
• Problems faced

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The care for the homelessMost important place of
living in the year before admittance

• Parental family 10 (1982 10)
• Living in own dwelling as a single 20 (1982
  22)
• Living in own dwelling as a couple 22 (1982
  16)
• Living with family or friends 9 (1982 5)
• On the street 5 (1982 5)
• Youth institution 4 (1982 9)
• Psychiatric hospital 5 (1982 10)
• Prison 5 (1982 11)
• Hostel or supported accomodation 17 (1982 10)
• Less flow through from institutions more
  readmittance in hostels more former living in
  their own family (esp. women)

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The care for the homelessMost important problems
on arrival in hostels

• From the point of view of the client
• No adequate housing
• No income
• Rooflessness
• From the point of view of the social worker
• No income
• Personal or psychological problems
• A housing problem

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The care for the homelessHomeless persons are
highly dependent on residential care
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The care for the homelessassistance offered

• Besides a residential stay or supported
  accomodation the most given forms of help are
• Information and administrative help (87)
• Financial aid and regularisation of social
  security (62)
• Material aid (54)
• Food (50)
• Assistance in finding work or housing (50)

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Opinions on causes and solutions

• According to social workers 1 in 5 homeless
  persons staying in a hostel could live in an
  independent dwelling if such a dwelling was
  available, either in social housing or the
  private market.
• In hostels for men and for women social workers
  see capababilities for independent living for
  about 90 of the residents.

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Opinions on causes and solutions

• Main causes of homelessness according to social
  workers
• Disaffiliation
• Rooflessness
• Insufficient capabilities for independent living
• Shortage of appropriate housing
• Socio economic situation

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Opinions on causes and solutions

• Main solutions for homelessness according to
  social workers
• An improvement and differentiation of methods of
  social work (at measure,)
• An improvement and reorganisation of the homeless
  centers
• Special efforts on the housing market
• More cooperation within welfarework and with
  other basic institutions (esp. housing)
• More prevention and more attention to structural
  factors