1. Study Visit: Barka, Poland
June 2009
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Policy context
The British government’s new rough sleeping strategy “No one left out: communities
ending rough sleeping” was launched on 18th November 2008. Building on the
success in reducing the numbers of people sleeping rough by two thirds over the last
10 years, the strategy sets out a new ambitious objective of ending rough sleeping in
England by 2012.
In the strategy it was noted that some migrants from Central and Eastern Europe
have not been successful in finding or keeping work, and are a growing proportion of
the people still sleeping rough. The strategy noted that in London people from these
countries, predominantly from Poland, make up 20 per cent of rough sleepers.
People from the A8 and A2 countries1 who become members of the EU in 2004 and
2006 respectively have restricted rights under the Treaty signed when their countries
acceded to the EU. They are entitled to freedom of movement and have the right to
enter Britain. All A8 workers must register with the WRS once they obtain
employment. An A8 worker can only claim a right to reside in the UK if they are
working and registered under the WRS, or can demonstrate that they have worked
continuously as a registered worker for at least 12 months
Workers from the A8 and A2 countries who are in employment and who are
registered on the WRS are eligible for in-work benefits such as tax credits. After a
year of continuous employment workers can claim a right to reside, and once this is
granted benefits such as Job Seekers Allowance and Housing Benefits are available
as they would be to all other citizens
The people from A8 and A2 countries who are sleeping rough are usually single men
who have not been able to find or maintain formal work for the required period. Many
are therefore unable to pay for basic necessities and cannot pay the rent for hostels
or other accommodation. It is therefore difficult to assist people from these countries
through the usual services and routes off the streets provided by local authorities and
voluntary sector organisations.
1.2 Scale of rough sleeping by central and east European migrants
Since the publication of the strategy in November 2008, Homeless Link surveys and
the CHAIN data base have shown that the number of people sleeping rough in
London has increased. It is now estimated that around 25 per cent of those sleeping
rough in London are from the A8 and A2 countries; the majority of these are from
Poland.
A survey undertaken in January and February 2009 of all local authorities in England
found that 14 per cent of the respondents highlighted difficulties with A8 and A2
nationals sleeping rough in their areas. These local authorities were predominantly in
the East of England, the West Midlands, North West, South East and London.
1
The A8 countries include Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic,
Poland and Slovenia ; the A2 countries include Romania and Bulgaria

2. Recent media coverage has highlighted the growth of encampments of rough
sleepers from the A8 and A2 countries.
1.3 Reconnections
The government’s specialist advisers on rough sleeping have developed some
practice notes for local authorities in England, setting out the assistance they should
offer to destitute migrants from the A8 and A2 countries that are sleeping rough.
These highlight the importance of helping reconnect people to their home country.
Barka is a significant provider of support to Polish rough sleepers to enable them to
return home. They have been working in London for almost three years, and have a
successful track record of helping people return to community and work opportunities
in Poland using their network of social economy integration centres.
Despite the promotion of reconnections, many Polish rough sleepers claim they have
nothing to go home to, and wish to stay on the streets, even though they are destitute
and at risk of poor health and even attack.
1.4 The Study Visit
In order to better understand the situation for Polish migrants, and the options that do
exist for those who return, a study visit was arranged through Barka.
The Study Group comprised:
Richard Blakeway – Housing Adviser to the Mayor of London
Jeremy Swain – Chief Executive of Thames Reach (a major provider of
services for rough sleepers in London)
Jenny Edwards – Chief Executive of Homeless Link (an umbrella organisation
to build capacity and represent homelessness agencies in the UK)
Julie Brett – Rough Sleepers Co-ordinator, London Borough of Tower
Hamlets
Claire Vaughan – Rough Sleeping Team Co-ordinator, Communities and
Local Government
Michelle Binfield – Specialist Adviser on Rough Sleeping (London) for
Communities and Local Government
Rebecca Pritchard – Specialist Adviser on Rough Sleeping (England) for
Communities and Local Government
The visitors represent national, regional and local government, as well as specialist
charities – all working to end rough sleeping in London and England by 2012.
The visit included visits to various social enterprises and accommodation based
community services; meetings with Barka members, including those who had worked
in or slept rough in London; and meetings with local, city and regional politicians. The
following visits were undertaken:
Barka’s Social Economy Centre in Kwilcz, near Poznan – which comprises
community housing for families and single people, a farm and a range of
social enterprises (including a chalet holiday centre for poor families and
organic pasta manufacture)
Social Economy and Social Integration Centres in Kwilcz (a community café;
needlework social enterprise; clothes recycling enterprise and organic garden
shop)
Meetings with members of Barka’s community who include returned rough
sleepers from London and elsewhere in England

3. MA Maria Wegrzyn, Mayor of Kwilcz Commune
Poznan City Council officials – with responsibility for social services
Representatives of the Wielkopolska Regional Government
Barka’s Social Economy and Social Integration Centre in Poznan (with skills
development kitchen; Street Paper; carpentry workshop; printing and design
workshops; and training centre)
A social enterprise restaurant in Poznan centre
A housing settlement for families who had been Barka community participants
A furniture recycling social enterprise
A hostel provide by Poznan City Council
Meetings with Barka’s founders
2.0 Findings
2.1 Migration
The motivations of people going to England in search of work and opportunities was
explained, and linked to the country’s experiences of restricted opportunities and
movement after decades under communism and a relatively recent democratic
political landscape whilst still being perceived as “separate” from the West. Only in
2004 with membership of the EU were people able to take the opportunity to travel to
realise hopes and aspirations. This context provides a strong motivation for people to
seek opportunities outside Poland, and can exacerbate the unwillingness to accept
the reality of their situation when things go wrong.
The economic down turn and recession was identified as having an impact. Regional
government statistics showed that in 2008/09 the formal migration support service
(EURES) received 6,000 job offers from England – most of which were unskilled. To
date in 2009/10, only 140 job offers had been received (c. 600 for the full year,
should these trends continue) – and these were mostly skilled. This c. 90% reduction
on formal job offers reflects the impact of recession and the limited opportunities for
working in England at the current time.
EURES statistics highlight that many Polish people are returning home. In 2008/09
104 returned through EURES; to date in 2009/10 1,400 have returned.
The vast majority of Polish people have had a positive and successful experience of
migration. A small minority, many of whom may have been unemployed, low skilled
and with limited social capital in their home country have migrated to England
informally (but legally) and have found that, without work, there is no safety net for
them. This group are increasingly destitute and sleeping rough in London and
elsewhere in England.
The realities and risks of migration in the current economic climate for people with
low skills and limited English needs to be communicated before people leave. There
needs to be a strategy to target this message at people unlikely to consider migration
through formal programmes.
2.2 Returning home: the offer
A number of people currently sleeping rough in London and elsewhere in England
have told outreach services that they have nothing to go home to in Poland. It was
suggested that in part, this is due to the reduced social welfare “offer” from the state,
compared with the provision of housing, income and guaranteed employment under
the previous regime (prior to 1989).

4. We felt that on the evidence of the visits and meetings undertaken, there was a
positive “offer” for people who might not have the resources to live independently on
their return, or those who did not immediately wish to return to their families.
The BARKA network provides decent accommodation, with opportunities for
community support, social integration, skills development, work and social
enterprises.
The state – through its city councils - offers basic hostel accommodation and help to
find employment. The legislation influenced and developed through Barka’s work
stresses the need for a social integration approach, so that hostels do not simply
“warehouse” people but support and assistance is provided to promote social
integration. Poznan City Council advised that their (new) service will include a
programme of 6 hours per day over 12 months to develop skills and help with the
development of social co-operatives. There is basic welfare subsistence support for
single people.
We were also advised that there is access to treatment for alcohol dependency,
including detox, therapy and AA groups.
2.3 Returning home: the process
It will be important to communicate this to people sleeping rough. The Barka model
uses Polish people with direct experience of rough sleeping and alcohol dependency
to return to England to work with people on the streets, building relationships and
trust so as to be able to support them to return. The return is seen as a positive and
planned process facilitated through trusting relationships.
Many of those with experience of sleeping rough in London identified their use of
alcohol as a major issue, which contributed to them losing work and being unable to
move on from the streets to find work again. For some, wanting to stop drinking was
the motivation for leaving the streets – an environment in which they were
surrounded by others who were also alcohol dependent – so accessing detox was a
motivation to return home, although some needed assistance before being able to
travel.
Many of those we met who had previously slept rough in England said that free food,
blankets and access to showers etc. were available from day centres and “soup runs”
often delivered by faith groups. The consensus from those who had slept rough was
that this support provided a vital short term survival service. However, they also felt
that prolonged and unconditional food and blankets etc. sustained their ability to
remain on the streets, and had ultimately been a negative influence on their longer
term well being as it made it less likely that they would accept support to return home
or otherwise sort themselves out.
Most migrants came to England to pursue their dreams and hopes of working, which
were thwarted by their lack of skills, poor English and reducing employment
opportunities in the recession. The advice from those with the experience of sleeping
rough was that it was important to convince people that staying on the streets was
not the way to realise these hopes and dreams. The people we met gave a clear
message for current rough sleepers: go home, stop drinking, gain skills and learn
English – so you are prepared and can return to try again.
It is important for all those working with these groups to promote a consistent
message, and to work in a complementary way.

5. 3.0 Actions
3.1 Early Intervention and Prevention
Lead: Polish national/regional/local government with support from Homeless Link
Information needs to be provided for single people planning to travel outside
organised and formal government programmes on the impacts of the recession, the
realities of work, the risks of exploitation, the lack of safety net welfare provision. This
should highlight the need to have good language and relevant skills before seeking to
migrate. The information needs to be targeted at socially excluded
communities/individuals who will consider migration outside formal programmes (via
hostels, housing estates, job centres etc.) Information is best provided in DVD and
written formats. Also need to check the information currently provided via EURES.
3.2 Support to Exercise Treaty Rights
Lead: CLG/Barka
Establish a social economy centre in London for migrant workers who are close to
the labour market. Services would work to enhance their language skills, convert
skills and Polish education/training courses into accredited and recognised
qualifications, promote and support the development of social enterprise ideas.
3.3 Reconnections Offer
Lead: CLG/Barka/Homeless Link
Information needs to be provided to promote the options at home, stressing the
accommodation, skills and work opportunities available. A DVD could be developed
to be played for people at day centres and through church drop in sessions.
Information leaflets should be produced – in Polish and other relevant languages –
with pictures and testimonials.
3.4 Information from people who have slept rough and been reconnected
Lead: CLG/Local Government Commissioners
Outreach services should be recommended to employ people with the languages
and experiences that enable them to engage effectively with the target audience.
Barka could be commissioned to expand its services, subject to their capacity to
respond. Other providers could be encouraged to adopt similar approaches.
3.5 Interpreters, translation and relevant language speakers
Lead: CLG/Local Government Commissioners
Outreach services should be recommended to employ people with the languages
required to engage directly with rough sleepers from the A10 countries. Sessional
workers, volunteers etc. should be used to complement existing staff teams.
3.6 Engagement with faith and community groups
Lead: CLG/Local Government Commissioners/Homeless Link
Information and key messages from those who have directly experienced rough
sleeping and “hand outs” needs to be communicated to church groups and day
centres and alternative positive ways of engaging and supporting rough sleepers to
realise their hopes and dreams developed. CLG is working with the umbrella group
Housing Justice to build capacity for church groups to develop befriending services,
as one alternative to unconditional donations of food and blankets.
3.7 Improved intelligence
Lead: CLG/Broadway
There is a resistance on the part of some Polish authorities to accept that those
rough sleeping have a local connection to their area and CHAIN needs to be adapted
to provide more detailed information in this area.