making homeless people visible in the eu-silc surveys
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given by Ides Nicaise, BE at the Ninth European Research Conference on Homelessness, "Homelessness in Times of Crisis", Warsaw, September 2014 http://feantsaresearch.org/spip.php?article222&lang=enTRANSCRIPT
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Making homeless people
visible in the EU-SILC surveys
Ides Nicaise & Ingrid Schockaert University of Leuven (HIVA)
Research commissioned by
the Belgian Combat Poverty Service
and sponsored by BELSPO
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
SILC-CUT project
• EU-SILC as key data
source for EU-wide
poverty statistics…
• …and policies
(Europe 2020 headline
target)
• Problem: how
representative is EU-
SILC for AROPE ?
2-10-2014 2
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Objectives of the research Examine representativeness of EU-SILC for groups
with enhanced poverty risks in Belgium
Sampling issues
Non-response and attrition (+ prevention strategies)
Examine feasibility of ‘satellite surveys’ among hard-
to-survey (H2S) groups in Belgium
adjusted questionnaires
Pilot surveys among two H2S groups (homeless people and
undocumented immigrants)
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9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Homeless illustrate sampling issues
Excluded from sample framework Undocumented (illegal) immigrants
Collective households (prisons, institutions,
convents…)
Asylum seekers ?
People who do not live in their legal residence Homeless people (even those having a ‘reference
address’)
Itinerant groups (travellers, …)
People living permanently on campings
2-10-2014 4
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Experimental satellite surveys
Why homeless people and undocumented
immigrants ?
‘obscurity’
Size of these groups
Extreme poverty
Why ‘statistical survey’ ?
Comparison of statistical profile with other groups
Monitoring of specific aspects of living conditions
2-10-2014 5
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Definition of ‘homeless’
See ETHOS definition, categories 1 & 2
Roofless (rough sleepers)
Houseless (living in shelters)
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Experimental satellite surveys (ctd)
Overall strategy
Indirect sampling in collaboration with social
services and advocacy groups
Adapted questionnaire design
Close monitoring of interviewers (carried out by
specialised survey team)
Preliminary statistical analysis of data
Feedback to intermediaries and policy makers
2-10-2014 7
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Experimental satellite surveys (ctd)
Sampling and response
Stratified sample based on available (scarce) information
Extensive negotiation with intermediaries from social
services (= gatekeepers)
Compromises between scientific and pragmatic criteria (e.g.
mental health issues, peer pressure…)
Snowball method rather ineffective
Undocumented immigrants very hard to reach (language x
fear)
Remaining response bias unavoidable
2-10-2014 8
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Experimental satellite surveys (ctd)
Some key findings
High AROP rates (72% among homeless, 96% among
undocumented immigrants) with extreme financial deprivation among
the latter.
=> Lack of effectiveness of guaranteed minimum income and social
assistance scheme
High proportions of women with children (32% among homeless,
53% among undocumented migrants)
Deprivation rates = 100% in both groups – with extreme hardship
among rough sleepers (no access to potable water, toilet or shower
in their place of residence)
2-10-2014 9
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Experimental satellite surveys (ctd)
Some key findings (ctd)
Severe housing problems among undocumented
immigrants (overcrowding, exploitation, lack of
basic amenities)
Severe health problems (24% among homeless,
37% among undocumented migrants). Mainly
nervous / psychological distress (lack of sleep,
anxiety, loneliness, addiction…). Non-use of
medical services for financial reasons
2-10-2014 10
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Conclusions
Representativeness of surveys w.r.t. poverty should be
improved At level of sampling (prior identification of H2R groups
At level of research design (adapted questionnaires,
anticipation of exceptional situations)
At level of data collection (specific subsamples, appropriate
survey methods, interviewer training, anticipation of language
barriers)
At level of data treatment (re-weighting)
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Conclusions (continued)
Surveys about living conditions of specific disadvantaged
groups are useful and feasible: • Hard figures as a complement to ethnographic studies
• Comparability between subgroups, ‘average’ poor and population
• Comparisons between EU countries and across time
Yet the data collection is difficult => preconditions • Partnership between researchers and social services
• Well-trained and supported survey team
• considérable time investment
• Realistic sampling procedure (access <=> representativeness)
• Simplified questionnaires + extensive guidelines
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
www.inclusivegrowth.be 13
Conclusions (continued) Suggestions w.r.t. EU-SILC satellite surveys
Co-ordinated across member states
Rotating sampling plan
No (rotating) panel design
fixed sample size for each group
Simplified questionnaires + tailored interview modules (e.g.
administrative situation of undocumented migrants; hygiene
conditions of homeless people…)
Title/date
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
www.inclusivegrowth.be 14
Conclusions (continued)
Suggestions w.r.t. EU-SILC satellite surveys example of sampling plan
GROUPS Year
T
Year
T+1
Year
T+2
Year
T+3
Year
T+4
Year
T+5
Year
T+6
Year
T+6
Year
T+6
1 & 2 X X
3 X X
4 & 5 X X
6 X X
7 X
…
Title/date
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
www.inclusivegrowth.be 15
References
Nicaise, I., Schockaert, I., The hard-to-reach among the poor in
Europe: lessons from Eurostat’s EU-SILC survey in Belgium, in: R.
Tourangeau et al. (2014), Hard-to-survey populations, Cambr. Univ.
Press (ch. 26)
Schockaert, I., Morissens, A., Cincinnato, S., Nicaise, I., Armoede
tussen de plooien. Aanvullingen en correcties op de EU-SILC voor
verborgen groepen armen, Leuven: HIVA, 2012, 225p
Title/date