The fifth workshop of the CUHP thematic network was held in Milan at Politecnico di Milano on April 21st – 22nd 2005. It was attended on the first day by all the research teams and on the second day by Italian NGOs working in the field of homelessness who presented their work.
Please click here for a full summary of the fifth workshop.
- Summary of Milan Workshop on ’Identifying the Hidden Homeless’
Identifying Hidden Homelessness
The main work of the first day was to consider how the issue of ‘hidden homelessness’ should be approached. There were four main papers. Questions included: Should the definition be through the housing characteristics of the household only, or should other social variables be included? What are the different purposes of the ‘scales’ of homelessness that have been proposed for use as estimates of homeless populations and the study of ‘hidden homelessness’?
- Introduction to the papers on ’Hidden Homelessness’. Joan Smith, UK
Maryse Marpsat, INED, discussed the purpose of the definition of homelessness devised in France. ‘Hidden Homelessness’ is not a term used by NGOs in France, instead they use ‘housing hardship’. Great care is taken to avoid double-counting. This method could be applied by other countries if account was taken of different housing norms including overcrowding etc.
- ‘Beyond Literal Homelessness’, by Maryse Marpsat, INED, Fr
Joan Smith argued that the discussion of ‘hidden homelessness’ in the UK is partly framed by homelessness legislation in the UK. The ‘hidden homeless’ can be homeless people who are not accepted under the legislation (single homeless people, the intentionally homeless etc) or homeless people unknown to local authorities or NGOs. Recently proposed ‘scales’ of homelessnessness (from the street to living with families) can be seen as scales of visibility rather than vulnerability. Visibility differs with household type (families are not found on the street).
- ‘Hidden Homelessness and definitions of Homelessness in the UK – some issues for European definitions of homelessness’, by Joan Smith, London Metropolitan University, UK.
Antonio Tosi and Rossanna Torri reported the need to extend the concept of homelessness because of changes in homeless populations. In Italy women’s homelessness is ‘hidden’ and owing to the welfare system in Italy, rarely becomes ‘literal’ homelessness. There are two possibilities of broadening the definition of homelessness – one in the direction of housing, the other in the direction of poverty. Perhaps what is important is the policy implications of the classification?
- ‘Extending the concept of homelessness’ by Rossanna Torri and Antonio Tosi, Politecnico di Milano, IT.
Eszter Somogyi and Iván Tosics, HU, reviewed the use of the Hidden Homeless concept and found that it was mainly used in English speaking countries. They reviewed the international definitions. Using four broad categories - Roofless, Interim Homeless, Without a flat, Without a real home - extensive homelessness had been identified in Hungary. Almost 3 million people were without a real home and this raises the question of affordable housing. Therefore some NGOs prefer a narrower definition. There is a need for the EC to expand into housing policy.
- ‘Hidden Homelessness: An overview of the concept, statistics and policy implications’ by Eszter Somogyi and Iván Tosics
The Hungarian paper was accompanied by an extensive appendix written by PÉTER GYŐRI that developed the four categories of ‘hidden homelessness’ in the Hungarian Census with estimates. The appendix also discussed housing problems associated with children in care, the decline in workers’ hostel places, the lack of security of accommodation and changes in the social composition of the population in relation to marriage, divorce, widowhood etc.
- ‘In the Margin of Statistics: Introductory thoughts on the concept of ‘hidden homelessness’ by PÉTER GYŐRI
The paper from Denmark estimated the numbers of homeless living in different situations, using both register and survey data, following the classification of homeless situations developed by FEANTSA.
- ‘Danish research on Homelessness with a focus on Hidden Homelessness’ by Ivan Christensen and Inger Koch-Nielsen, Dk
The following discussion on ‘hidden homelessness’ that covered several issues. Should the definition of homeless should be based on a housing definition/ housing characteristics or broadened through the introduction of social variables? How close should definitions used in research be to definitions used in policy? How to address variation in housing situation between European countries - from the Netherlands through to Hungary - in relation to adequate housing and social housing. Identifying changing homeless populations and variation in different types of people vulnerable to or at risk of homelessness.
Click on the Summary document at the top of the page
Theories of Homelessness
The network then continued the work begun in London and considered various theoretical approaches important in the study of homelessness. Antonio Tosi introduced this session discussing the reasons that it is important to make theoretical approaches explicit, the need to integrate micro and macro theoretical approaches, and why the concept of ‘cause’ might well be replaced by concepts such as ‘triggers’ of homelessness from the UK research.
Jean-Marie Firdon then introduced the use of ‘social capital’ analysis in homeless research undertaken by the team from INED, Fr. Bourdieu’s concept of social capital is complex, encompassing five kinds of social capital: physical amd health, social (relationships and ties) and symbolic, educational/occupational, economic. Analysing social capital in relation to social fields allows the researcher into homelessness to create a complex approach to both individual and structural factors. Bourdieu’s concept of social capital is very different from that of Coleman or Altman in the United States.
- ’A ’capital’ and ’social field’ approach’ by Jean-Marie Firdion, INED, Fr
The French paper was accompanied by a general paper on homelessness research in France.
- ‘A few notes about the context of homeless research in France’ by Maryse Marpsat, Fr
The Dutch team explained that the nationally the government is interested in estimates and local government, responsible for homelessness, is interested in policy. Theoretical perspectives have been developed by Ph.D students researching different homeless populations – life world perspective of Schutz and Habermas, Bowlby’s attachment theory, Giddens and late modernity, and Goffman and careers of homelessness. Bourdieu has not been important in the Netherlands.
- ’Theoretical approaches n recent academic studies into homelessness in the Netherlands’ by Lia van Doorn and Petra van Leewen, Neth
The Spanish team reported a review of databases of published studies. Few studies explain the causes of homelessness, They found that studies had shifted from social structural views of homelessness to vulnerability models, and an acceptance that the phenomenon is complex. Methods used to study the dynamic of homelessness are quite poor and so the idea of ‘triggers’ is interesting. We need methods to study dynamic change, and also to be able to weight the different factors in the process of becoming homeless.
- ‘Theoretical models in the homeless population’ by Manuel Muñoz, Carmelo Vázquez, Sonia Panadero, Aida de Vicente, SP
Megan Ravehill presented an overview of the development of eight perspectives on homelessness in the UK. Her paper discussed Giddens’ structuration theory, the inter-play between biography, behaviour and structural characteristics, the importance of over-lapping ‘triggers’ of homelessness and Structuration theory in relation to Risk theory (Beck, Croft)
- ‘British Homelessness: Theoretical Perspectives’ by Megan Ravehill, London Metropolitan University, UK
The Hungarian team reported a lack of theoretical framework for research on homelessness. In Hungary homelessness research was largely carried out by social workers, focused on policy and emphasized the structural factors behind homelessness. Danish researchers are now searching for methods of integrating micro-sociological approaches with macro approaches and some have found Bourdieu’s theory useful for this.
The discussion following the papers ranged widely. Points include it is necessary to consider economic theories as well as sociological and social psychological theories; the role of discrimination against black and ethnic minority people in homelessness.
The Spanish team argued that it is necessary to understand protective factors and resilience to homelessness and the Danish team, using register data, argued that there were three: personal networks, economic factors and housing situation, three types of capital.
The UK team argued that the concept of ‘risk’ could be applied to structural factors as well as personal whilst the Italians thought that concept of ‘vulnerability’ should be personal. Both the UK and the Hungarian team reported they could identify structural factors that preceded the rise in homelessness – changes in the family, welfare system, housing market, and, for Hungary, the introduction of capitalism.
There was much discussion about the use of Bourdieu’s theory and about Structuration theory.
For a full report on the discussion points see Summary document at the top of the page
Non-Government Agencies in Italy
Several NGOs presented their work with and for homelessness people in different Northern Italian cities. NGOs attending the second day in Milan included those working with the single homeless and street homeless in the cities of Bergamo, Bologna and Genova as well as FIOpsd, the organisation of homeless organisations in Italy.
FIOpsd introduced their work which included lobbying, public awareness, training and reports. Recent research has demonstrated the desire of homeless people to change their condition. Nuove Albergo Popolare, Bergamno, discussed their work with homeless people helping them to access wages and housing. NAP prefer the term ‘severe adult hardship’ to labelling in relationship to addiction or other problem. Associazione San Marcellino, Genoa, runs a ‘Care Centre’ for the homeless. They say it is difficult to be in contact with women, and there appears to be a growth of ‘dissaffiliation’. Associazione Amici di Piazza Grande, Bologna, is based on self-help policies, runs a homeless newspaper, factories for recycling second-hand materials (including bicycles), a mobile street service, and an advocacy service. They see more immigration from the South, and young people in their service.