Presentation made by Dr Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Centre for Housing Policy, University of York, United Kingdom at a FEANTSA conference on Social Emergency in Large European Cities, 2005

1. Coercion in Street
Homelessness Policies in
England
Presentation to FEANTSA
Conference, City Hall of Paris,
October 2005
Suzanne Fitzpatrick

2. Introduction
 Coercion in street homelessness policies –
can it be justified from a social justice
perspective?
 Journal of Social Policy paper and new
research funded by Joseph Rowntree
Foundation
 ‘Street users’: people begging, people
sleeping rough, street drinking and Big
Issue vendors

3. Policies on Rough Sleeping
 Rough Sleepers Initiative (1990-1999) –
outreach workers; hostel places; housing
association homes; resettlement services
 Rough Sleepers Unit (1999) - significant
additional resources
 Two thirds reduction target - substantial
decline in rough sleeping

4. A Growing Emphasis on
Enforcement
 ‘Problem street culture’ part of ‘anti-
social behaviour’ agenda
 Begging – increased criminal sanctions;
Drug Treatment and Testing Orders;
Anti-Social Behaviour Orders; civil
injunctions; diverted giving schemes
 Street drinking bans
 Local Community Safety Strategies

5. Justifications for Enforcement
Many people feel intimidated by
rough sleepers, beggars and street
drinkers, and rough sleeping can
blight areas and damage business
and tourism (Prime Minister’s
foreword, Social Exclusion Unit,
1998)

6. What is the Evidence?
1. Impacts on local businesses
2. Impacts on fear of crime
3. Impacts on the welfare of those
involved: highly damaging, but will
coercion/ enforcement work?

7. Enforcement and Begging
 Those who beg are homeless – rough
sleeping is key route in
 But do use proceeds to maintain substance
misuse (alcohol or heroin)
 Self-destructive – but what are consequences
of eliminating income from begging? Address
addiction? Or become involved in prostitution
and (other) crime?
 Need for research! Joseph Rowntree study –
started in April 2005

8. JRF Study
Objectives:
 to assess the overall impact of enforcement
interventions on the welfare of street homeless people
and identify the circumstances associated with any
particular positive or negative outcomes.
 to evaluate the impact of enforcement measures on other
stakeholders in the local community.
Methods:
 6 case studies
 focus groups and interviews with service providers; street
homeless people; other ‘stakeholders’ in local community
Will report: July 2006

9. Conclusion
 Coercion and enforcement are now key
aspects of street homelessness policies in
England
 Urgently need evidence on impact of
enforcement on street homeless people
 Relevant policies and research elsewhere in
Europe? Driven by central government as well
as local stakeholders? Opportunities for
collaboration?