Young People, Homelessness and Housing Exclusion: Exploring the Impact of the Economic Crisis in...

9th European Research Conference

Homelessness in Times of Crisis

Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014

Paula Mayock and Sarah Parker

Trinity College Dublin

[email protected]

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Young people, Homelessness and

Housing Exclusion: Exploring the

Impact of the Economic Crisis in

Ireland

mailto:[email protected]




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




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.




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)





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.





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




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.




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.




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.




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)




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.




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.




“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)




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




[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)




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.




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




[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)




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)




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).




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).




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.

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