Presentation given by ... at a FEANTSA Research Conference on "Understanding Homelessness and Housing Exclusion in the New European Context", Budapest, Hungary, 2010

1. New experiments in social housing for (former)
homeless in The Netherlands
Lia van Doorn, professor for Innovation of Social Work,
Centre for social Innovation,
University of applied sciences,
Utrecht, The Netherlands
(Co-researchers: Raymond Kloppenburg & Peter Hendriks)
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN THE
ENHR
NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

2. Presentation
 The aim of the research and research questions
 Presentation of the characteristics of six new
experiments of social housing for (former)
homeless
 What can be learned from these experiments?
Main outcomes of the research
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

3. The aim of the research
 The Dutch national organisation for social
housing (Housing Experiments Steering Group /
SEV) wants housing associations to be kept
better informed about innovative experiments in
housing for former homeless and other
vulnerable groups who have difficulty living
independently in standard housing.
 What lessons can be learned from these
innovative experiments for social housing?
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

4. Research questions
 Which innovative forms of social housing with assistance
and supervision for vulnerable residents are realized in
The Netherlands? How can these social housing
experiments be characterised?
 How do these experiments of social housing involve the
local area / neighbourhood?
 What type of expertise do staff members need?
 Which institutions work together in the experiments and
what form does this cooperation take?
 To what extend is upward social movement involved for
residents of these experiments for social housing?
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

5. Innovative experiments of social housing
We selected and described six innovative
experiments of social housing:
1. Woonhotel & Flexibel wonen, Rotterdam
2. Nieuwe Energie, Leiden
3. Omnizorg, Apeldoorn
4. Begeleid Wonen, Hoogezand
5. Je Eigen Stek, Amsterdam,
6. ‘T Groene Sticht, Utrecht
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

6. 1. Woonhotel & Flexibel Wonen,
Rotterdam-Rijnmond
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

7. 1. Woonhotel & Flexibel Wonen,
Rotterdam-Rijnmond
 A hotel with a combination of upmarket hotelrooms for
regular guests and affordable short stay facilities for
(former) homeless. Set up by three Rotterdam social
housing corporations.
 Also: supervision contracts for rented social housing for
(ex) homeless / ex-convicts etc. spread across the city
and properties with shared facilities.
 Housing supervisors (‘streetwise’) focus on quality of life and
case managers (from the health institution) handle individual
cases: combination of care and control: carrot and stick.
 Contracts adjusted at 1½ year periods with decreasing control.
 Residents receive a regular rental agreement in a small
presentation ceremony.
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

8. 2. Nieuwe Energie, Leiden
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

9. 2. Nieuwe Energie, Leiden
 Former textile factory on the edge of central Leiden.
 Joint project between the municipality, the Portaal
housing corporation and social services.
 Housing from: office of the housing corporation, ICT
businesses, restaurant (ROC study workshop). Night
shelter for homeless people and workshop/day-care
centre.
 Integration where possible and segregation where
necessary (entrance corridor).
 Less disturbance in the city, a controlled increase in the
local area.
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

10. 3. Omnizorg, Apeldoorn
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

11. 3. Omnizorg, Apeldoorn
 Joint project between the municipality and
health-care institutions (mental health authority,
homeless shelters and addiction care centres).
 Building forms part of overall urban plan.
 All employees (from health-care institutions)
involved in contact with the residents.
 Building fitted to reflect housing progression.
 Expected stay of 3 to 5 years.
 Less disturbance in the city, more disturbance
around the building.
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

12. 4. Begeleid Wonen, Hogezand
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

13. 4. Begeleid Wonen, Hogezand
 Newly constructed building in former problem area.
 Initiative by housing corporation.
 Building has independent housing units for various target
groups (young people, former homeless people, those
with drugs or mental health issues).
 Focuses on independent living, social contact is not
encouraged (to prevent disturbances).
 Case managers at corporations handle allocation, social
concierge plays an important role in contact with
residents.
 Supervision by health-care institutions failed to
materialize as hoped.
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

14. 5. ’T Groene Sticht
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

15. 5. ’T Groene Sticht
Residential / working development in Leidsche Rijn
 Not imposed in an existing area but developed on the
drawing table of a new satellite city.
 Combination of housing for sale and rent, homeless
shelter, charity shop, restaurant.
 Visitor’s quarters are self-managed.
 Residents selected on the basis of affinity and
willingness to contribute (concept of ‘neighbourliness’)
 Search for a balance between support and
dependency.
 Project is running successfully for 6 years.
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

16. 6. Je eigen stek (my own place), Amsterdam
 Half-way house for formerly
homeless people
 Completely self-managed.
 Formerly homeless people without
any additional complicating factors.
 As little professional intervention
as possible.
 Residents proud of the success of this
project.
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

17. Outcomes of the research:
1. the expertise
 Pioneers with passion, able to break down barriers.
 Cooperation between administrators, health workers,
local residents, local facilities and clients.
 Hands-on professionals: streetwise, language of the
target group, people with first-hand experience.
 Case managers: focus on the step-by-step acquisition of
independent living skills.
 Supervisors: signal problems with quality of life.
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

18. 2. The local area
Important themes: security and quality of life,
concentration of disturbance.
 Contact with local neighbourhood is a critical success
factor.
 Open communication; do not shy from providing clear
information about risks.
 Involve residents from the planning phases.
 Effective complaints procedure.
Contact with a wide range of welfare institutions, sports
associations, voluntary organizations, and churches is
essential for projects to become firmly rooted in society.
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

19. 3. Cooperation
 Responsibility for administration/ policy direction
lies with municipality as part of their duty to
provide social support.
 Responsibility for implementation lies sometimes
with housing corporations and sometimes with
health-care institutions.
 Division of roles often along lines of supervision
by corporations and assistance by health-care
institutions.
 Development of shared objectives between the
partners.
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

20. 4. Upward social movement
 Policy ambition of upward social movement (after a stay
of one year) is not usually achieved.
 Upward social movement is a limited concept; more than
just moving up the housing ladder.
 Improvement in quality of life, improvement of the living
environment in the city.
 Some people will remain dependent on some form of
supervision, while others will have more opportunities to
succeed.
 For former homeless people, getting used to not living on
the streets.
 As few relocations as possible for individual cases.
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

21. Final remarks
 The distinction between social assistance and
supervision is often made very strongly: they are
both implicitly part of the service to be provided.
 Disengagement of professionals from the
primary process leads to empowerment of the
residents. Favour self-management and using
those with first-hand experience.
 Social professionals have more responsibility
than previously for cooperation between
institutions but are not getting the right training
for this.
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT

22. Thanks for your attention
European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN ENHR
THE NEW EUROPEAN CONTEXT