Presentation given by Mathijs Tuynman, NL at the Ninth European Research Conference on Homelessness, "Homelessness in Times of Crisis", Warsaw, September 2014 http://feantsaresearch.org/spip.php?article222&lang=en

1. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Homelessness and policy responses in times of crisis: the Dutch case
Mathijs Tuynman,
Trimbos Institute

2. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Governance & monitoring
Central government:
€
system responsibility
Local government:
Primary responsibility
Policy freedom
43 central municipalities
National Strategy Plan
Policy monitoring (Trimbos-institute)
Social Relief and addiction policy 2013
Catchment areas of central municipalities

3. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Effects of crisis impede policy
goal attainment
 Crisis effects: in the
Netherlands,
1. Financial cuts by
national and local
governments
2. Poverty increased
3. Housing market
imploded
Municipalities: ‘which factors
impede attainment of your policy
goals?’
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
failing collaboration
shortage in housing
influx (new homeless,
extramuralization)
financial cuts
% of central municipalities
Top 3: financial cuts, new/ rising nr of homeless,
shortage in housing

4. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
1. Government financial cuts
1) National grants
to municipalities for
Social Relief,
Public Mental
Health, Addiction
policy:
 2011: € 307 mln
 2014: € 300 mln
  -3%
85
90
95
100
105
110
2011 2012 2013 2014
Index 2011=100
Budget cuts are not evenly distributed nationally
NL Other 39 'Big 4'
2) Not only on social relief:
- Health care (esp. mental,
residential care)
- Social benefits
- Taxes (esp. mortgage
subsidies, housing allowances)

5. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
1. Cuts: threats & opportunities
Threats
Less adequate support and housing fitting to clients’ needs and possibilities
Less collaboration / increased competition
Too high expectations of clients’self-sufficiency
Opportunities
Less hospitalization and More orientation on strengths and recovery
-Outpatient care
-Prevention (district teams)
-Housing First
-(Labor) Rehabilitation
-Consumer-Run initiatives

6. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
2. Increase of poverty
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013*
x 1000
Increase in social benefits since 2008
unemployment (WW) welfare (bijstand)
 Restrictions access to:
 unemployment benefits
(young; 1 year)
 welfare benefits
(household treshold)
 Housing rents
increased
 ‘Landlord charge’
 Less buyers, more
tenants

7. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
2. Poverty increase and home
evictions
 After 2011, poorer
households’ buffers are
empty
 Convenants municipality
& housing corporations:
 Agreement with tenants
on repayment scheme
 Corporation notifies care
network
 Suspension of execution
of verdict on condition of
cooperation
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
More verdicts, equal evictions
verdicts evictions
 88% of home evictions: rent arrears

8. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
2. Poverty increase and homelessness
Methodological limitations
‘New homeless’
Poverty, no addiction/ psychic problems
 no access to shelter, no registration
Homeless families
Numbers 
Inadequate support and facilities
0204060801001201401601802009201020112012 Index: t0=100 Is the number of homeless persons rising or falling? CBSG39Clients

9. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
3. Housing market imploded
 Impedes outflow from
social relief facilities to
self-sufficient living:
 Stagnating throughflow
in ‘normal’ housing
market  less vacant
houses in cheapest
sector
 Social housing
corporations have less
financial buffers and are
less cooperative
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2006* 2007* 2008* 2009* 2010* 2011 2012** 2013*
billion €
Collapse of housing market
GNP real estate/ property transactions (lease, trade)

10. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Summary
Economic crisis had mostly negative effects on homeless
Effects were mediated through both national and local policies
-
+/-
+
•‘New homeless’
•Outflow 
•House evictions
•Homeless persons ?
•Focus on strengths and reintegration

11. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Near future of NL policy (2015+)
Health care is reformed
Long-term care is restricted
Mental health care is restricted
Municipalities more responsibilities
Sheltered & supported housing, day care
Participation (sheltered labor, obligation to participate)
Youth care

12. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Discussion
1.There is no real focus shift on strengths and reintegration
2.Transfer of responsibilities to local government is risky
3.Primary focus of homelessness policy should be on housing and poverty, not on care
Thanks! mtuynman@trimbos.nl