European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN THE NEW

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ENHR

Faith based Solidarity Marginalised? Homelessness, Faith-Based Organizations and the

National Action Plan for SocialRelief in the Netherlands

Maarten Davelaar & Jessica van den Toorn

Verwey-Jonker Institute, Netherlands

European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN THE NEW

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Content

Definition of FBOs Role of FBOs in fighting homelessness FBOs and NGOs National Action Plan for Social Relief Discussion: marginalisation of role FBOs?

European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN THE NEW

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Definition FBOs in this study

Any organisation that refers directly or indirectly to religion or religious values, and that functions as a

welfare provider and/or a political actor for the homeless

European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN THE NEW

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Role of FBOs in fighting homelessness (1)

1. Professional services to selected groups in the homeless population. Within the framework of the welfare state, largely funded by public authorities, strictly regulated

Example: Salvation Army

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Role of FBOs in fighting homelessness (2)

2. Services to (marginalised) groups within the homeless population. Services the state cannot or does not want to take care for. Private financial means, volunteering

Example: Ecumenical communitarian community Oudezijds 100

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Role of FBOs in fighting homelessness (3)

3. Informal care for (almost) homeless people, often provided ‘in silence’ by religious communities, contributing to prevention

Example: local churches, The Inner City Project

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Role of FBOs in fighting homelessness (4)

4. Activate volunteering by members faith communities and others

Example: Rainbow Foundation Amsterdam

European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN THE NEW

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Role of FBOs in fighting homelessness (5)

5. Political advocacy

Example: Paulus Church

European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN THE NEW

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European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN THE NEW

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What distinghuishes FBOs from NGOs (1)

Less demanding towards service users, less ‘last chance’ policies

Offering ‘meaning-giving’, spiritual element, community feeling

More volunteers involved, volunteers stay longer Stronger ideological background ► claiming

independence More mixed funding ► freedom to act Moral duty to do good to ‘the least’ (Matthew 25) ►

concentrating on most marginalised groups

European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN THE NEW

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What distinghuishes FBOs from NGOs (2)

European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN THE NEW

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National action Plan for Social Relief (1)

Time span: 7 years (2006 – 2012) Expenses: yearly 175 million Results (2006-2010): 9.800 homeless people of the streets National Plan & ‘City compasses’: Amsterdam, Den Haag,

Rotterdam en Utrecht

Central pillars: Local authorities in charge Central point of entrance for client Individual treatment ► tailored programmes, personal client

managers 100 % seamless co-operation between all parties and agencies

involved

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Discussion: marginalisation FBOs? (1)

Effects of The Plan on FBOs depend strongly on the functions they fulfil in the local social system

Pressure to choose between providing state-regulated, fully subsidised services or working with volunteers and private funds cleavage between niche-players and key-actors funding behind the scenes (small public-private

budgets) to take care of ‘special cases’

European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN THE NEW

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Discussion: marginalisation FBOs? (2)

No evidence that The Plan will make FBOs redundant: Tradition Good track record Budget reasons Support in society ► volunteering / additional funds “They’ll keep doing their work anyway”

Growing tensions in state – religion relations in general ► Pressure to ‘hide’ the peculiarity of the faith-based identity,

European Research Conference, Budapest, 17th September 2010UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION IN THE NEW

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Questions?