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9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Paula Mayock and Sarah Parker
Trinity College Dublin
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Young people, Homelessness and
Housing Exclusion: Exploring the
Impact of the Economic Crisis in
Ireland
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Acknowledgements
Co-author, Sarah Parker
Focus Ireland, funder of the research
Study Participants: young people and family
members
Service Providers who assisted with the recruitment
process
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
The Economic Crisis
Growing consensus about:
The highly negative impact that austerity policies and reforms
can have on the lives of vulnerable people.
Young people who become homeless or experience
housing instability:
An extremely vulnerable group within economies, such as
Ireland, which have experienced a severe financial crisis and
where austerity policies continue to be pursued.
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
The Irish Housing Market
Young people’s housing transitions are taking place in a new housing market cycle:
• Rents bottomed out in late 2010, with national rental costs dropping approximately 27% (from €1083 to €787) from peak rates in 2007.
• More recently: steadily rising rents with Dublin city centre rates currently standing at a 28% increase since 2011.
• “Average rent across Ireland has increased from €825 to €915 for a given property over the past year – or close to 11%” (The Daft.ie Rental Report, 2014 Q2: 2)
• Rents outside Dublin are also increasing, with prices rising by 6 to 7 per cent a year in Cork, Galway and Limerick.
(Source: Daft.ie rental reports from January 2007 to May 2014)
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
The Irish Housing Market
Problems associated with rising rents are further
compounded by a shortage of social housing and rental
properties in Irish cities, particularly in the capital.
Low housing affordability and availability: moving to independent living situations and/or ‘stepping’ on to the property ladder is out of reach, even for some of the most privileged young people.
In this context, the position of disadvantaged youth is inevitably precarious since their chances of forming independent households are likely to be highly constrained.
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
The Irish Housing Market
Using the maximum rent limits currently set in Dublin for a single
person in receipt of rent supplement (€520), a search of the property
website Daft.ie (undertaken on 22.08.14) for lettings produced:
• 12 rental properties
• Of these, only one stated that rent allowance was accepted
A similar search of the property website Myhome.ie (undertaken on
the same day) produced:
• 5 rental properties
• One of which was only available for a 4 week period
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Research Aims and Recruitment
The study aimed to:
• Identify young people’s routes or paths ‘out of home’;
• Examine their experiences (of accommodation, education/training,
daily life, and so on) after leaving home;
• Track young people’s interactions with services and systems of
intervention over time; and
• Identify facilitators and barriers to housing stability.
Recruitment
40 ‘out of home’ young people (25 males, 15 females), aged 16-24 years.
Accessed throug a range of statutory and non-statutory services in
Dublin and Cork.
Where appropriate, permission sought from young person to interview a
family member.
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Data Collection Methods
1) Young people (n = 40): Life History Interviews/Biographical Approach
• ‘Open invitation; allows young people to take control of the
interview.
• Allowed young people to articulate their views and to elaborate on
‘critical moments’, transition, and change in their lives.
2) Family Members (n = 10): Qualitative In-depth Interviews
• Detailed, yet informal orientation – good for researching sensitive
topics.
• Acted as a ‘conversation with a purpose’.
The data collection phase of the research was conducted over an eight-
month period between May 2013 and January 2014.
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Young People Life and Homeless Histories
Young people’s first ‘out of home’ experiences typically
occurred during the early or mid-teenage years.
Situations that precipitated their homelessness: histories of
state care; family disruption and family instability; family
conflict, family violence; ‘problem behaviour’ and
neighbourhood stressors.
At this point, they typically entered situations of ‘hidden’
homelessness (staying with relatives or friends) and many
returned home for short periods over a period of several.
Grew up in poor/disadvantaged neighbouhoods.
Disrupted schooling; low educational attainment; low labour
market participation.
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Current Living Situations
Youth-oriented Services
Under 18s ‘Out of Home Provision’ n=9
Supported Temporary Accommodation (18-23 years) n=16
Temporary Emergency Accommodation (18-23 year) n=2
Supported Lodgings n=1
Adult Services
Adult Emergency Hostel n=5
Adult Supported Temporary Accommodation n=1
Bed & Breafast Accommodation n=1
Remaining Young People: sleeping rough (n=1); PRS (n=1);
residential aftercare (n=2); semi-independent setting (n=1)
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Finding a Place to Call Home
Many of the young people were focussed strongly on the
future and were actively seeking ways to achieve stability in
their lives.
A large number had experience of seeking accommodation
in the private rental sector.
However almost all of their accounts highlighted multiple
economic and systematic constraints of access as well
as challenges and anxieties related to maintaining, or
transitioning to, independent housing.
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Barriers to Access
Saving enough money for a deposit.
A highly competitive rental market.
Limited experience of dealing with landlords, agents and viewing properties.
Discrimination form landlords due to age-related stereotypes.
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
“I went up to view a place and I mean there was 20 people outside
and like if they are before you, bang, straight away they are getting
it. But I left my name down and nobody rang me ... it’s obviously if
someone comes to you with cash in their hand, straight away you
are going to take it.” (Aoife, 19)
“It’s very hard because, do you know when you’re you, they think ,
‘Oh, drink, drugs, partying, clubbing, the place being broke up’.
That’s instantly what they think like when they see a young person
coming. And it’s not fair like because we’re all put under the same
(label). Like I genuinely don’t want a place to drink or take drugs ...
when you’re young they instantly see trouble like.” (Rebecca, 18)
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Barriers to Access
A rental market that discriminates against those in
receipt of rent supplement.
The poor standard of more affordable rental
properties.
Discrimination by landlords due to their status as
homeless
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
[What kind of experiences have you had with landlords?]
“None because they won't even give you a chance like, you know?
If a landlord knew that you were coming from homeless
accommodation, they're sort of, you know… if they know or if they
hear that you're coming from a hostel (they say) ‘oh no, that’s
gone”. That’s just the way it is, you know.” (Craig, 22)
“When you’re homeless it’s almost like they (referring to the
Government) want you to stay homeless. Like if I went in to ask for
rent allowance you’d have to jump through fucking hoops … I
haven’t got anywhere yet but the places they can get are few and
far between. Most places don’t accept it (rent allowance), places
that do are kips but it is what it is like. They are kips but they are
better than hostels so I’d pay the money for it if I could get it.”
(Michael, 24)
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Challenges to Maintaining Housing
Keeping up with bills and rent payments.
Experiences of domestic violence.
Eviction due to anti-social behaviour.
Difficulties managing mental health problems and risk
behaviours (e.g. substance use).
Sub-standard conditions.
Managing peer relationships.
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Ready for Independent Living?
“I like me own freedom at the same time but like I need support, do
you get me?” (Fiona, 19)
Many expressed anxiety about the transition to independent living
situations and their ability to cope in accommodation without
supports.
A large number articulated the need for preparation for independent
housing, particularly in relation to:
• Budgeting and money management;
• Loneliness, isolation and mental health needs; and
• Substance use problems
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
[Do you think you’d need support if you were living on your own?]
“Yeah, definitely. Someone just to check up on me and to call in for
tea and a chat and that you know? So you don’t feel so alone… like
they keep saying to you in all the hostels I’ve been to, ‘There’s
outreach and you can call to outreach, and outreach will call to
you’. You move out and you never hear anything from anybody.
Nobody gets in contact with you” (Rebecca, 18)
It’s places like this (Supported Temporary Accommodation) where
people feel secure. You can’t go from (name of emergency hostel)
to private rented, you know, you might be able to but it very rarely
works. You are not going to be stable enough, you know? It’s just
not going to work to go from places like that into private rented.
You need a transition, you know? Normality for a while.” (Maria, 23)
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Family Member Perspectives
“I suppose he (Paul) wants his own place that he can come and
go and and have people in and, do you know? And I suppose
the biggest thing, he needs support, like you know ... especially
at the beginning like to, to learn to manage.” (Teresa, Paul’s
mother, 49).
“I would just be real wary of her living on her own ... Like, I’m
just terrifeid like if she will hurt herself or if she is having one of
them days or fighting with her friend ... she can’t control anger.
I’m just terrified that she will do something that she shouldn’t be
doing.” (Jess, Abigail’s sister, 17)
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Conclusion
“Welfare regimes impact profoundly on the causes and nature of
homelessness. Structural homelessness is lowest where welfare
safety nets are strong” (Stpehens et al. 2010: xxvii).
Increased attention directed to aspects of housing exclusion in
housing research: particular emphasis placed on processes related
to housing affordability and the changing role for states in welfare
and housing provision (Edgar et al., 2002; Stephens & Fitzpatrick,
2007; Teller, 2010).
“The general condition of the housing market is a major driver of
structural homelessness, and access to mainstream affordable
housing for vulnerable groups is a major concern even in countries
with the strongest welfare protection” (Stephens et al., 2010:xxxvii).
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Conclusion
Challenges relate primarily to structural barriers, including shortfalls
in affordable and available housing supply and young people’s
vulnerable position within stressed housing and rental markest.
An unaffordable rental market (exacerbated by experiences of
discrimination in the PRS), reduced welfare benefits, and increased
sanctions targeting the young and unemployed can be identified as
increasing their risk of continued homelessness and housing
exclusion.
Policy changes involving reduced benefits and the increased use of
sanctions targeting the youth unemployed – “a high risk startegy when it
comes to the risk of homelessness for socially marginalised young people”
(Benjaminsen and Busch-Geertsema, 2009:129).
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Conclusion
The data indicates a need for improved protective
mechanisms for young people who are welfare dependent
as well as a range of appropriate housing options tailored
specifically to meet young people’s needs.
Since the transition to independent living is a process
rather than a once-off event (Mayock and Corr, 2013),
young people will almost always need supports in housing,
including the provision of specialist health and care
services, that are responsive to each individual’s needs.