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Chaotic, fluid and unstable: an exploration of the complex housing trajectories of homeless people in Flanders, Belgium

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Abstract

This article analyses the housing and homeless pathways of (ex)homeless persons in the coastal city of Ostend. After a short review of the literature on the causes and meaning of the vulnerability of homeless persons, we describe how our case study with (former) homeless persons in Ostend was organised. We deal with some methodological issues and the analytic results, revealing a very complex housing trajectory. We focus on these dynamic and complex housing pathways and look at the role of relationships and relationship breakdown, work and unemployment, eviction after rent arrears and moving as an escape strategy. We also deal with the searching process for housing and the role of social networks. We end with some conclusions and interest points for policy.

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Notes

  1. Social rental agencies are either NGOs or branches of the local social services (OCMW) that rent accommodation on the private rental market en sublet them within the social rental regulation to vulnerable people. Allocation is based on need. See De Decker (2002, 2009) and FEANTSA (2012).

  2. Art. 22 of the Decision of 12 October 2007 of the Flemish government concerning the allocation of social rental dwellings gives the frame for the refusal of the allocation of a social rental dwelling. It states that the social landlord can refuse if the liveability is at stake. The Flemish regulation allows some discretionary interpretation for local governments. E.g. in Antwerp the local regulation introduced a threshold on the number of allocations to homeless persons (Meeus and De Decker 2013a).

  3. Belgium is a federal state. In principal housing and welfare policies are a regional matter (Flanders, Wallonia & the Brussels Capital Region). Nevertheless, housing tax deduction and private renting are still federal matters. The current Federal policy agreement stipulates that these domains with others will be transferred to the regions.

  4. Through the advocacy of the Netwerk tegen Armoede (Network against Poverty), the Flemish government has promised to develop a global plan to deal with homelessness. It should have been ready by the end of 2013. It was not.

  5. Only 6% of the housing stock in Flanders is social renting.

  6. At least one informant (e.g.) moved between the interview and the feedback moment with the CAW&JZ Middenkust a few months later.

  7. The CAW&JZ residential supervisors stress that escape behaviour is common among vulnerable persons.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Anne Beeckman, Ruth Owen (FEANTSA), the participants to the WELPHASE workshop at the Lillehammer ENHR conference (June 2012), our respondents and two anonymous referees for their comments on earlier versions of the text. We also would like to thank the colleagues and the members of the steering group of the Steunpunt Ruimte & Wonen, and the staff of CAW&JZ Middenkust for their support and co-operation.

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Correspondence to Pascal De Decker.

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This article is based on a research funded by the Flemish government (Programma Steunpunten voor beleidsrelevant onderzoek 2007–2011). The text only reflects the opinions of the authors and not of the Flemish government. The Flemish government is not liable for the use of the data.

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De Decker, P., Segers, K. Chaotic, fluid and unstable: an exploration of the complex housing trajectories of homeless people in Flanders, Belgium. J Hous and the Built Environ 29, 595–614 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-013-9367-0

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