Barcelona Societat 20

I am really pleased to be able to present you Issue 20 of the Barcelona Society journal, with which Barcelona City Council relaunches an influential publication for the diffusion of research directly connected to Barcelona. Barcelona Society was born in 1993 with the aim of encouraging and sharing social research conducted in the city with the purpose of improving social policies as well as the life of the inhabitants.

We are convinced that working on social policies in a society which is becoming every day more complex, where co-related phenomena and new realities are appearing, demands a thorough knowledge of the social reality. Barcelona Society seeks to make available the work of professionals and experts who, coming from the academic field or public management; on a political or technical level; from the state, private or associated sector, take part in the creation of knowledge about the social reality of the city.

After nearly five years without being published, a new period emerges with a number devoted to homelessness and housing exclusion, a face of poverty that is becoming more and more relevant in large western cities. While resources for homeless people managed by local authorities and social organizations are increasing, the number of people excluded permanently from the housing market is also rising.

In Barcelona, data provided by the city counts and the Social Insertion Services point to a rise in the number of people who sleep on the street. If the first comprehensive count made on March the 11th 2008 registered 658 people sleeping rough, a count made on May the 18th 2016, revealed 941 rough sleepers. This means a 37% increase in eight years. In the same period, the number of people sleeping in accommodation centres, either of social organizations or public ones, has risen by 60%; from 1,190 people housed on March 11th 2008 to 1,907 on May 18th 2016.

The obvious increase of pressure on the system of attention to homeless people obliges us to examine thoroughly and accurately the severe housing exclusion phenomenon and overcome stereotypes by proposing new social intervention approaches aimed at recovering the housing, economic and emotional stability of the people who go through the harsh situation of losing their home and being forced to sleep on the street.

Barcelona City Council and all the social organizations that form the Network of Attention to Homeless People have reinforced their commitment towards those people hit hardest by the decline in living standards by designing and presenting the Plan to Fight Against Homelessness. A road map necessary to review and speed up the transformation of the attention services addressed to homeless people and to foster the designing of policies targeted to housing access and the economic and emotional stability of those who have lost everything and need to rebuild their home.

Laia Ortiz

Deputy Mayor of Social Rights

Barcelona City Council

Foreword

The Network of Attention to Homeless People in Barcelona

Author

Albert Sales

abstract

Barcelona Society journal is relaunched after a five-year break. It returns in a new format and with a commitment to share its contents on a digital platform, maintaining as always its commitment to technical and academic rigour and to serve the city and its citizens. On the basis of this commitment, we devote Issue 20 to homelessness and housing exclusion, bringing together different visions, research and experiences in order to outline one of the challenges all the large European cities must tackle and one to which the citizenship, organizations and Barcelona’s municipality have always been very sensitive..

Take stand

Homelessness: A Human Rights Crisis

Author

Leilani Farha

Abstract

Homelessness is a global human rights crisis that demands an urgent response. It is occurring in all socio-economic contexts – in developed, emerging and developing economies, in prosperity as well as in austerity – and it is occurring with impunity.

Take stand

Housing First. The right to housing for the most vulnerable

Authors

Marta Llobet Estany, Manuel Aguilar Hendricksón

Abstract

The Housing First model as a research or intervention approach in the homelessness field, focused on the people who have spent more than a year on the street and suffer severe mental health problems and/or addictions, has emerged as a social innovation. It was tried out for the first time in New York in the 90's, after the effectiveness of the traditional “staircase model” was called into question. It has also been implemented in Canada and Australia and been complemented with extensive evaluation work.

It’s seen as a change of paradigm because, as opposed to the "staircase system", this approach starts at the end, providing permanent and self-contained housing. The right to housing and self-sufficiency is recognized. The attention is tailored to the needs, pace and options of the person. It's an intervention approach that must be co-produced from the principles of proximity, relationship, accompaniment and respect.

Housing First generates many expectations, but also questions, dilemmas and tensions in relation to both the implementation process and the analysis evaluations and research documented. Some of these questions and dilemmas will be addressed in this article.

In depth

Not having a home damages (a lot) health

Author

Marta Plujà

Abstract

These days, when the global and globalized financial recession has devastated family economies and caused housing deprivation, the life conditions of many people attended by Càritas services are getting worse, creating a deep impact not only on their daily life, but also –and above all– on their health.

In depth

Problems with dealing with the mortgage and the impact on health

Authors

Laia Palència, Hugo Vásquez-Vera, Carme Borrell

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the health of people who had problems in dealing with their mortgages in Catalonia and who were represented by members of the Platform for People Affected by Mortgages (known in Spain as PAH) and compare it to the general population. It has been observed that the probability of poor health suffered by people affected by mortgages nearly trebles that of the Catalan population. In particular, the percentage of men surveyed who declared having poor health (regular or poor) was 40%, while of the total Catalan male population it's 15%. Concerning women, around 55% declared having poor health, compared to 19% of the total of Catalan women.

Regarding to mental health, the results were even more shocking. Among the people affected by mortgages, 84% of men and 91% of women had poor mental health, while a percentage of 10% and 15% corresponds to the total Catalan population. This study has found out that people facing problems to pay the mortgage and therefore suffering foreclosure procedures have worse health than the general Catalan population. Public policies such as social housing, second opportunity mechanisms or the assignment in payment are necessary and urgent in order to revert this situation.

In depth

Homeless people attention in the city of Barcelona

Authors

María Virginia Matulič Domandzič, Carles Cabré Vacas, Albert García Gispert

Abstract

The city of Barcelona has a long history of attention to homeless people. The city council program of attention to roofless people provides solutions for the most vulnerable situations through the provision of services and resources for the various phases of social exclusion. These devices have increased and become more diversified, adapting thus to the changes in society. At the same time, different non-governmental organizations have carried out important work throughout the years. As a result of this joint work, in 2005 the Network of Attention to Homeless People was born.

However, important challenges need to be faced, such as the implication of other protection services, especially with regards to health, and lead the fight against homelessness beyond the territorial limits of the city, involving therefore other cities and local authorities.

In depth

Right to inhabit, right to (social) housing

Author

Joan Uribe Vilarrodona

Abstract

Related concepts such as housing, social housing, habitat, inhabit, right to housing and right to the city are explored. The article seeks to understand the current situation where cities are wavering between choosing social justice and rights or Neoliberalism and social inequalities.

A historical and up-to-date analysis of the right to the city allows us to tackle the right to inhabit and how this is executed in relation to the right to the city and in opposition to the habitat logic, all of which is connected to the right to (social) housing.

It’s concluded that the place to live can’t lead by any means to the inhabitants’ social and political disaffiliation, since that would invalidate urban life. Without urban life, there’s no housing and there’s no freedom without housing.

In depth

Housing First Model In Spain

Authors

Roberto Bernad, Vanesa Cenjor i Rebeca Yuncal

Abstract

The Habitat programme, launched in 2014, is the first Housing First (HF) approach being systematically implemented in Spain. This article displays, on one hand, the different stages and difficulties found during the launch process, such as defining the profile of the participants, selection of the clients and how to refer and place them in the programme or the services provision. These are some of the challenges faced by the Habitat teams, yet at the same time are seen as relevant learning processes. On the other hand, the article also presents the methodology and first results of the comprehensive Habitat evaluation.

The evaluation seeks to provide evidence on the effectiveness of the HF model in the Spanish context as well as identify difficulties and strengths. Programme results regarding the users after 12 months are very positive, at the same level as other international experiences. The housing retention rate is 100% and improvements have been observed in all areas, especially in the perception of wellbeing, family relationships and the financial situation.

The comparison showed that participants in the group attended by the mainstream services model experienced less improvement than the people participating in the Habitat model. Moreover, a fidelity test of the pioneer approach has been made, revealing a high fidelity to the HF principles.

In depth

Housing access for roma migrants

Authors

Cecilia Vergnano, GRECS, OACU

Abstract

This report presents a comparative approach about the housing exclusion processes of particular stigmatized groups, the Roma migrants, in Italy and Spain, setting as examples the cases of Turin and Barcelona. From a diachronic point of view, the housing strategies of these groups are integrated in (and shaped by) the different historical housing policies trajectories in an Italian and Spanish context.

From a synchronic point of view however, similarities are seen in the daily routines and economic survival strategies of these groups regardless of the different social, historical and policy framework contexts: in both scenarios, housing insecurity is a daily matter of fact and the economic survival strategies are often criminalized and repressed.

Experiences

Together we can do more: Y-Foundation and Housing First in Finland

Author

Juha Kaakinen

Abstract

Finland is the only country in EU where homelessness is decreasing. This is due to persistent policy work as well as finding new measures to decrease and prevent homelessness. Key thing in the process have been united forces. One active partner in this cooperation for over 30 years has been the Y-Foundation.

Experiences

Best practices and models database of the Social Rights Section

Author

Yolanda Fierro

Abstract

The Best Practices Database collects and encourages the use of best practices both in general management and in provision of care from the Social Rights Section of Barcelona City Council, be they the Council’s own or with third sector participation or other municipalities. This project seeks to foster active participation by highlighting the professionals’ experience which use them, as well as spreading the message of our organization, promoting the diffusion of information, knowledge and workable practices aimed at finding answers to social challenges more efficiently and effectively.

Experiences

Housing First at Arrels Foundation: A change of direction

Author

Arrels Fundació

Abstract

More than three years ago, Arrels Foundation focused its attention on a different care intervention approach for homeless people, with an emphasis on access to self-contained, dignified and stable housing, with a person-centred social intervention approach. That’s Housing First, and it works successfully in many cities worldwide.

Arrels’ commitment to this model has led to a reorganization of its teams, putting into practice new ways of working and dealing with doubts and challenges. If Housing First is addressed to rough sleepers, what happens to those in an entrenched situation, who fail to find any adequate support for their situation? Does living in an individual apartment make the person feel alone? How can the peer role be incorporated? And what happens if, because of the financial and social context, there are no affordable housing options available?

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