Matt Harrison (Resource Information Service, UK) Barbara Illsley (University of Dundee, Scotland)

European Commission

MPHASISMutual Progress on Homelessness through

Advancing and Strengthening Information Systems

National Seminar Portugal

Lisbon, February 13th 2009

European Commission

Purpose of Mphasis

Measuring Homelessness Report ec.europa.eu/employment_social/

social_inclusion/docs/2007

Improve Capacity National Authorities in data collection on

homelessness

MPHASIS Approach Mutual Learning / Practice Strand Research Strand

European Commission

Seminar Purpose

PROGRESS - Social Inclusion Strategy Mutual Learning Mobilising all actors

Commission Expectations Concrete Outputs and Outcomes

National Seminars Agreed outcome statement on actions

required to improve data collection on homelessness

European Commission

Purpose of Data Collection

Strategy Aims to Data needed for

Prevent homelessness People vulnerable to eviction People who leave an institution with no home

Tackle the causes of homeless-ness

Data reflecting different pathways

Reduce the level of homelessness

Scale and prevalence of homelessness

Reduce the negative effects on homeless people

Longitudinal analysis / repeat homelessness

Ensure that formerly homeless people can sustain permanent independent housing

Number who gain access to permanent or supported accommodation and remain there

European Commission

Homeless Pathways and Data Sources

CAUSES

STRUCTURAL

INSTITUTIONAL

RELATIONSHIP

PERSONAL

FACTORS

Poverty

Unemployment

Housing

Institutional Living

Foster / State Care

Prison Experience

Armed Forces

Abusive relationship

(childhood)

Abusive relationship

(with a partner)

Family Breakdown

(death or separation)

Mental IllnessLearning Difficulty

Drug Dependency

Alcohol Dependency

TRIGGERS

Eviction

Discharge

Leaving family home

Fleeing violent relationship

Coping with living alone

Illness episode

Support breakdown

Substance Misuse

DATA SOURCES

Housing

Judiciary

Social Welfare

Surveys

Health Services

Penal System

Service Providers

European Commission

Data Collection Overview

HomelessHomeless persons surveys

  France, Spain, Italy

Service Providers / Client Registers

Netherlands, Ireland

Social Welfare / Support

Official Registers of Services

Czech, Hungary, Latvia

Regulation Denmark

Funding UK

Housing Allocation UK

Needs Assessment Finland, Ireland, Scotland

European Commission

Graph SlideTypology of Living Situations

Housing Units

Types of housing

Collective Living Quarters

Other

Living Situations

Conventional

dwelling

Non-conventional

dwelling

Institutional

Building

Non-institutional

Building

Public Spaces

external spaces

European Commission

Operational Definition

Operational Category Living Situation1 People Living Rough 1 Public space / external space

2 People in emergency accommodation

2 Overnight Shelters

3 People living in accommodation for the homeless

3456

Homeless HostelsTemporary AccommodationTransitional Supported AccommodationWomen’s shelter or refuge accommodation

4 People living in institutions

78

Health care institutionsPenal institutions

5 People living in non-conventional dwellings due to lack of housing

91011

Mobile homesNon-conventional buildingTemporary structure

6 People living temporarily with family and friends

12 Conventional housing, but not the person’s usual place of residence

European Commission

Homelessness Information Strategy

Driven by Strategy

Definition of homelessness and housing exclusion

Review of information sources

Service Provider Database

Core Variables Definition

Client Register information

Administrative Data / Survey Data

European Commission

Homelessness System Indicators

Input Indicators Threatened with eviction Leaving institutions Children leaving care

System Indicators Number of people receiving services Time spent in the system Flow of people through the system

Output Indicators People re-housed (with/without support)

European Commission

Homelessness Accommodation System

European Commission

Supply and User Statistics

Directory of Services Bed-spaces Prevalence occupancy rate

Client Registers Occupancy level Turnover Duration

Profile and Trends Profile demography Pathways profile Administrative geographies

European Commission

Core Variables

Test usability of Core Variables in all MPHASIS countries Demographic characteristic (age and gender), Nationality and migration background (country of

birth), Composition of homeless households, Accommodation situation (immediately before

service period and at time of data collection), Duration of (current) homelessness Reasons for (last) homelessness.

Common understanding? Data available? Harmonisation possible? Amendments necessary?

Obstacles for implementation of missing variables and possible solutions

European Commission

Outcome Statement

Homelessness Strategy What are the data needs of strategy / policies? Are there any plans for regular monitoring? How can an operational definition of homelessness

be developed and used?

Existing Systems National/regional databases of services set up? Client register systems installed and used for

providing more continuous information? What gaps exist / Reliability of data? Is definition of core variables agreed by actors?

European Commission

Outcome Statement

Barriers How can data protection issues be addressed? Is funding adequate / sustainable? How can barriers be overcome?

Information Strategy Is responsibility / governance clear? Is there a mechanism for review? What is the action plan for implementation?

National Action Agreement of outcome statement and action to progress

data collection Sharing progress and information from national

meetings and MPHASIS website www.trp.dundee.ac.uk/research/mphasis/

Report back to final MPHASIS conference in September 2009