Reorganising Access to Homeless Services for EU-Migrants in Times of Crisis
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Presentation given by Magdalena Mostowska, PL at the Ninth European Research Conference on Homelessness, "Homelessness in Times of Crisis", Warsaw, September 2014 http://feantsaresearch.org/spip.php?article222&lang=en
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Reorganising Access to Homeless Services for EU-Migrants in Times of Crisis
- 1. ! 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! Reorganizing access to homeless services for EU-migrants in times of crisis! Magdalena Mostowska, University of Warsaw!
- 2. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! Outline of the presentation ! n About the project! ! n Context in the selected countries and cities! n Access to homeless services for EU-migrants! n Institutionalization vs. deformalization! n Conclusions!
- 3. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! About the project ! ! Project aims! 1. Natural history of a social problem (migrants’ homelessness) – definition, responsibility, institutionalization! 2. Social and institutional practices of organizations responsible for homelessness on the European, national, local and organizational level! 3. Mutual adjustment of strategies of service providers and homeless migrants!
- 4. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! About the project ! n 2012-2014 individual research grant financed by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (0369/IP3/2011/71)! n 4x 30 days of fieldwork: Copenhagen, Dublin, Amsterdam, Stockholm! n Interviews with local authorities and ngo’s, front-line staff, documents, reports! n Ethnographic participant observation and interviews with the Polish migrants experiencing homelessness (rough-sleeping, using shelters and day centers)!
- 5. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! Context – Polish migration ! n Since 2004 new wave of emigration (and legalization of residence) of Poles in the EU! n Main destinations: the UK and Germany! n Poles second largest (after Romanians) group of immigrants within the EU! n Precarious migrants’ situation on the labor and housing market!
- 6. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! Context – migration ! Polish emigration according to Polish Statistical Office, 2012 (temporary emigration for longer than 3 months)!
- 7. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! Context – migration ! n “New” migration countries – opening of labor market: Ireland and Sweden 2004, the Netherlands 2007, Denmark 2009 n Labor market characteristics influence migration patterns – temporary work agencies in the Netherlands, trade unions in Denmark and Sweden, Irish recession n Dublin, Copenhagen, Stockholm – concentration of Polish community (Polish men in the construction sector, also production and services), Amsterdam – small Polish community (tourist destination) !
- 8. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! Context – selected countries !
- 9. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! Context – selected cities !
- 10. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! Context – fieldwork ! !
- 11. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! Access to homeless services for EU-migrants ! n EU-migrant “should not become an unreasonable burden on the social assistance system” n Limitations in access to services for EU-migrants with no “right to reside”! n No public funding for homeless services that support migrants! n “Local connection” restrictions! n Lack of knowledge and awareness of rights and access to services by migrants! n Losing right to benefits or health insurance in the home country
- 12. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! Access to homeless services in the selected cities ! Rapidly changing situation (access at the time of fieldwork)! ! n Copenhagen ! q outreach food and basics; one “night café” about 25 spots, couple day centers! n Dublin ! q DCC&Barka program (hostel, advice, repatriation), various day centers, emergency shelter! n Amsterdam ! q Barka outreach team (advice, repatriation), Helpdesk Oosteuropeanen (emergency beds, advice, repatriation), various day centers, food outreach! n Stockholm ! q Crossroads, summer shelter, various day centers! n No regular access to shelters, especially in the summer time!
- 13. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! How it works? ! n Couple hundreds EU-migrants approaching services during the year, 10-50% of the EU migrants are Polish, 20-50 persons core group of Polish rough sleepers in each city – complex needs! n Access criteria and practice of admittance changing quickly! n Specific projects operate on short-term basis! n Competition with other groups also in access to day centers and soup kitchens! n Migration of groups between services! n Informal individual referrals and placements, obtaining payments! n Repatriation as the “official solution” to the problem!
- 14. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! “Deformalization” of support for migrants ! Especially in Copenhagen and Amsterdam! n Restrictions in access to services lead to informal referrals and placements – individualization of support! n Privately-funded projects are short-term! n Repatriation as only “long-term solution”! n Uncertainty and insecurity of migrants! n Resentment towards other groups! n Focus on “work” as migrants’ obligation!
- 15. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! “Institutionalization” of support for migrants ! For example in Dublin (DCC&Barka) and Stockholm (Crossroads)! n Once a program is set up it “monopolizes” support ! n Limited time project – focus on “efficiency” (“processing cases” as quickly as possible)! n Other service providers refer everyone to the “migrants’ program”! n Institutionalization leads to specialization (focus on one particular group or set of problems)! n Conflicts between providers adopting the “official” policy and the “critical” ones! n Group of most vulnerable migrants is being excluded! !
- 16. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! Conclusions ! n Importance of context of the attitudes towards migrants, repressiveness towards rough sleepers/beggars! n Service providers in the EU are struggling with unclear legislation! n “Institutionalization” and “deformalization” occur simultaneously! n The situation is generating conflicts between service providers! n … and conflicts between different groups of service users! n Hostile attitudes towards migrants by some service providers! n Lack of confidence in the state and service providers by migrants! n BUT there are innovative ideas, projects, advocacy, and research!
- 17. 9th European Research Conference Homelessness in Times of Crisis ! Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014 ! ! Thank you! ! Research financed by the state budget 2012-2014! Grant of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (0369/IP3/2011/71)!