leadership in the fight against homelessness

Preventing Homelessness – Preventing Homelessness –

Securing Permanent HousingSecuring Permanent Housing

NRW State Program NRW State Program

© Programmgeschäftsstelle an der Universität Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstraße 65, 47057 Duisburg

Preventing Homelessness – Securing Permanent Housing

Experiences with an integrated state program against homelessness in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Sofie Eichner, program agency at the University Duisburg-Essen

Presentation for Expert Seminar: Cooperation & Networking to address homelessness, Oslo, Norway, 18. – 19. June 2007





NRW State Program Preventing Homelessness –

Securing Permanent Housing

• Introduction to the program

• Output and results

• Background and motivation for the program

• Reflection on key factors

• Conclusion

Agenda for concluding speech





Short introduction of the NRW State Program Preventing Homelessness – Securing Permanent Housing

The NRW State Program is an initiative of the Ministry for Family Affairs of the German Federal state North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).

It was started in 1996.

It is a unsolicited approach on tackling homelessness by the states government.

It offers time limited financial incentives for innovative local projects to advance the fight against homelessness.

From the year 1996 to 2007 127 projects have been funded through the program. The overall budget is over 21 mio €.





• Advance the services for homeless people.

• Develop new approaches, models of organisation and forms of access to homeless people and people threatened by homelessness.

• Widen the understanding of homelessness as an individual and structural problem of society.

Goals of the State Program since 1996





Support innovative projects to prevent homelessness and secure permanent housing:

• Strengthen homelessness prevention.

• Improve access to housing for people in housing emergencies and homelessness.

• Development of outreach services to provide effective support and advise.

Approach of the State Program

For each approach in the state program objectives, conditions and funding are defined.

The funding is granted for two to three years. It normally covers 70 to 80% of the costs for one person, executing the project.





Program management

The Ministry of Family Affairs steers the program, decides upon project funding, research, publications, press and publicity.

The State Program Agency at the University of Duisburg-Essen procures the scientific accompaniment and evaluation, supports applicants for funding and projects, organises the transfer of outcomes.

Municipalities, service providers, housing companies and other actors on the local level apply for funding and carry out the projects.

The scientific world, associations and organizations participate as experts, lobbyists and project partners; but not as advisory board.





• North Rhine-Westphalia is a dense populated “Land” (18. Mio inhabitants) with a history of industrial production in the Ruhr Area and prosperous, service oriented Rhine Area.

• In the late 90s NRW faced a peek in the number of people who were homeless (temporarily accommodated in municipal shelters under police law) plus resettlers from former Soviet Union.

• The “Face” of homelessness changed and became more heterogenic.

• Traditional (stationary) services for homeless people faced a loss of acceptance and function.

Background an motivation for the State Program





People accommodated in municipal shelters in NRW

30.06.06: 15.069 persons

: 8.826 households





• The political leadership in the state parliament of NRW changed to a coalition of social-democrats and green party.

• Research on reintegration of homeless people, a report on the social situation in NRW and a position-paper of municipalities were published and discussed in the early 90s.

• Know-how of service providers met administrative commitment in the ministry of social affairs.

Homelessness was a topic on al levels of the state.

The states parliament resolved upon the implementation of an integrated state program to support actors in counteracting homelessness.

Background an motivation for the State Program





Output and spectrum of projects

127 different projects in 43 cities in the regions of NRW.

70% conducted by NGO, 25% by municipalities

23% projects focused on prevention

37% projects focused on reintegration in housing

34% developed out-reach services





Municipal prevention agency work in deprived neighbourhoods

Development of prevention agencies and early warning systems





Social „housing agents“ give support and advise

Development of housing projects for homeless people

Conversion of former shelters into housing





Social services for street magazine-sellers

Out-reach projects and medical street care





Production of knowledge and transfer





After 11 years … what is achieved?

The program has given important impulses to improve local support structures for the prevention and reduction of homelessness.

The flow from regular housing into homelessness is reduced.

The program has supported the transfer of knowledge, innovative methods and principles into the mainstream.

Support for homeless people and people threatened by homelessness is a political issue.

Integrated statistic on homelessness in NRW is being implemented.

- - - -

“Macro” structural problems that cause homelessness are not being changed. The program continues.





Reflection on key factors:

• Aiming at the gaps between services, programs and actors.

• Clear principles and flexible framework. • Additional resources for moderation, evaluation and research

on the level of the projects and the program.

• Funding guidelines requiring co-financing by the service provider or municipality.

• Program agency as “interface” between administration and practitioners: governance, guidance, transfer.

• Personal engagement and responsibility.

• Program is cause for cooperation above the local level.





Conclusion for the NRW State Program

• Leadership is giving the possibilities and resources to “stick the head out of daily work” and take new paths to homelessness prevention and reintegration.

• The base is knowledge about the field and close communication with its actors.

• Cooperation with a differentiated base of supporting actors makes the strategies most successful and sustainable.

• Good results and their transfer have secured the political support over 10 years.





Aspects of a transferable lesson

Leadership requires…

• Data on homelessness and research about good practice in services, organisations and approaches is necessary to develop a sustainable and need oriented program.

• Clear leading principles to set the frame for innovation.

• Realistic goals and evaluation of effects is needed to secure the quality of projects, political support and have time to develop the program.





Thank You very much for Your attention!

Contact

Sofie Eichner

University of Duisburg-Essen

Lotharstraße 65

D – 470467 Duisburg

+ 49 (0) 203 – 379 17 01

[email protected]

www.wohnungsnotfallhilfe.nrw.de (also in English!)

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