Presentation given by Ruth Owen, FEANTSA at the FEANTSA/French Permanent Representation to the EU seminar, 'Housing First: A Key Element of European Homelessness Strategies', 23rd March 2012.
2. Overview
EU framework
Cohesion Policy (ERDF and ESF)
Social innovation and experimentation
Some key activities under PROGRESS 2012
FEANTSA activities
4. Cohesion Policy 2007 – 2013
ERDF
Since May 2010 possible for each MS to use up to 3% of ERDF
funding for housing interventions for marginalised communities:
renovation of common parts of buildings in multiple occupancy
renovation or changing building owned by public authorities or NGOs into
housing for marginalised groups
renovation and replacement of existing housing.
Potentially allows for renovation of shelters and transformation of other
buildings into shelters, but also transformation of shelters into supported
housing
Re-allocation of unspent money within Operational Programmes
Most MS underspend but technically difficult to reallocate in short
time frame
Number of examples where this has been taken up – so far little focus
on homelessness
NB: the managing authorities received training on this from DG
Regio, 21 March 2012
Time is running out….!
5. Cohesion Policy 2007 – 2013
ESF
In the Members States
Priorities defined by Operational Programmes
Access to employment and social inclusion = priority area
Transnationality
Support for transnational cooperation in all policy areas identified
for ESF interventions
Including social inclusion of disadvantaged people and combating
discrimination in the labour market,
Learning networks
Networks of ESF Managing Authorities and Intermediate Bodies
Focus on specific thematic and governance issues are now up and
running (co-financed by ESF Technical Assistance)
Call in 2012
6. Cohesion Policy 2014 – 2020
Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 legislative package
Commission proposals published, now going through legislative
procedure
alignment with the new long-term objectives of the EU2020 strategy to
promote jobs and growth
including poverty target (at least 20 million)
By 2013 Partnership Contracts to be agreed between MS and EC
assess development needs
define national priorities supporting delivery on the Europe 2020
strategy
combine ERDF and the ESF in "multi-fund" programmes
targets that the Member States plan to reach by the end of the programming
period
implementing agencies
performance indicators
opportunity to integrate homelessness in this framework
7. ESF 2014 - 2020
Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty
one of four thematic objectives to be targeted by the ESF.
at least 20 % of the ESF allocation should be dedicated to this
thematic objective, hence reinforcing the social dimension.
This objective can be reached through a range of
actions, including
active inclusion
enhancing access to affordable, sustainable and high-quality
services, including health care and social services of general
interest
integration of marginalised communities
Move away from the current predominant focus on
employment.
More space for homelessness
8. ERDF 2014 - 2020
Promotion of social inclusion and combating poverty,
including :
“investing in health and social infrastructure which contribute to
national, regional and local development, reducing inequalities in
terms of health status and transition from institutional to
community-based services”.
shift from homeless shelters (institutional) as the predominant
response to homelessness towards supported housing (community
based)??
Focus on sustainable urban development in the
framework of EU cohesion policy
at least 5% of the ERDF resources allocated for strategies
setting out integrated actions to tackle the economic,
environmental, climate and social challenges affecting urban
areas.
Scope for infrastructure/housing element of
homelessness strategies to be supported.
9. Social Innovation and
experimentation
High on the political agenda
“The crisis has only confirmed the necessity for
change in the way we approach our social and
economic challenges. Innovation in its broadest sense
must be part of our response to today's challenges”
(José Manuel Durã Barroso, President of the
o
European Commission, Brussels, 17 March 2011)
European Platform Against Poverty
“design and implement programmes to promote social
innovation for the most vulnerable”.
promote evidence-based social innovation, including social
experimentation
Innovation Union Flagship
10. Tools to support social innovation
and experimentation
EUPSCI:
new financial instrument managed directly by the Commission
combines PROGRESS, EURES and Microfinance Facility
aim:
to promote social change and innovation
support policy coordination, sharing of best practices, and capacity-
building
test and evaluate innovative policies (social experimentation)
EUR 97 million (17% of PROGRESS is to be allocated to
experimental projects)
support from the ESF for scaling up
Opportunities for homelessness e.g.
“Housing First Europe” (2010)
2011 call – projects submitted on homelessness
Lots of potential in relation to housing-led and Housing First
11. Some key areas for social
innovation and experimentation
The cost-effectiveness of housing-led
approaches
The effectiveness of different forms and
combinations of housing and social support;
Prevention of homelessness;
Sourcing housing
the removal of barriers to social housing
increasing the capacity of the private rental sector to
house homeless people
Transformation of hostels
12. Tools to support social innovation
and experimentation ctnd
Horizon 2020
ESF
ERDF
Social business initiative
Useful resources:
DG Employment Methodological Guide
DG Employment Examples of social
innovation in MS
13. PROGRESS 2012
European Quality Framework for Social Services
(Sectoral)
Call in 2012
European Institute of Public Administrations (EIPA)
Large-scale training programme on social inclusion
commissioned by DG Employment
Peer Review programme
Could be a focus on homelessness (selection of hosts and peers
happens through SPC)
Call for tender for an academic network to enhance
capacity for Social Experimentation
10 Social Experimentation projects to be funded under
the 2012 call (probably 5 this year)
14. Some Key FEANTSA activities
Ongoing informal ministries forum
Study visits in framework of French
homelessness
EOH study in framework of French
homelessness strategy on different
support models in context of Housing First
services
New European report on application of
Housing First in EU contexts
15. For Your Diaries…
Local authorities seminar “Funding
strategies: Building the case for
homelessness”
Friday 8 June 2012, Brussels
Notas do Editor
Responsible for Work with national and regional ministries Housing working group Social innovation Monitoring homeless policies in MS
Aim -Freek has looked at the political landscape -I want to focus in on a few key practical opportunities -First look at 3 areas of the EU framework: 1. Cohesion Policy Look at what’s currently possible with structural funds Look at what might be possible in the next funding period (2014 – 2020). Commission proposals announced 6 October 2011. 2. Look at the social innovation and experimentation agenda and consider what it might offer homeless policymakers Present some key activities under PROGRESS 2012 work programme 3. PROGRESS programme is a financial instrument supporting the development and coordination of EU policy in the following five areas: ■ Employment ■ Social inclusion and social protection ■ Working conditions ■ Anti-discrimination ■ Gender equality Issues lots of calls for proposals that could be interesting for us today Then present some FEANTSA activities that may of particular interest to national and regional policymakers in the area of homelessness
Cohesion policy aims to improve economic well-being of EU’s regions and reduce disparity By supporting job creation, competitiveness, economic growth, improved quality of life and sustainable development in the regions Cohesion policy takes up the great bulk of EU funding, and the majority of total EU spending. Poorer regions receive most support, but all European regions are eligible for funding under the policy's various funds and programmes. Convergence objective (€283.3bn (81.5% of total budget) Competitiveness and employment objective (€55bn (16% of total budget) Much smaller territorial co-operation objective The Structural Funds are the main financial instruments and most relevant to homelessness European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) €201bn for current period the European Social Fund (ESF) €76bn for the Period of transition for Cohesion Policy Commission proposals for the new funding period announced 6 October 2011. Some doors remain open in the current period Quite some potential in the next period
Has been possible for new Member States to fund housing since beginning of the period This was extended to all Member States in 2010 List the things it can be used for (see slide) No new money – it concerns the re-allocation of money within region’s Operational Programmes Major barrier is that it’s difficult to change the OPs in short time period Also culture that ERDF is not used for social interventions Examples: France: the national MA has pushed this and sent a circulaire to all regional MAs to encourage take-up. Some housing projects have now been funded e.g. Bretagne social housing project for Roma people. Also projects in CZ, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Cambrai, Liverpool. Regulation also allowed housing interventions for energy efficiency purposes and this has been popular. Political element to that but the space is there Time is certainly running out but no doubt that getting something like this on the go
The ESF sets out to improve employment and job opportunities in the European Union. (It intervenes in the framework of the Convergence and Regional Competitiveness and Employment objectives). Supports actions in Member States in the following areas: • adapting workers and enterprises: lifelong learning schemes, designing and spreading innovative working organisations; • access to employment for job seekers, the unemployed, women and migrants; • social integration of disadvantaged people and combating discrimination in the job market; • strengthening human capital by reforming education systems and setting up a network of teaching establishments. Used quite a bit to fund homeless services Many familiar with it Problem - dependent on quite tenuous links to employment Transnationality is interesting – one area with major potential for impact is to set up an exchange network of managing authorities focusing, for example on innovation in the area of integrated service delivery.
See slide menu of thematic objectives in line with the Europe 2020 strategy and its integrated guidelines New common strategic framework Last list: key elements of he partnership contract There is space within this framework to integrate homelessness Will then be much easier to fund homeless interventions Need to be in touch with Managing Authorities to influence this agenda.
Minimum shares for the ESF will be established for each category of region 25 % for less developed regions; 40 % for transition regions; and 52 % for more developed regions resulting in a minimum overall share for the ESF of 25 % of the budget allocated to cohesion policy, i.e. EUR 84 billion.
Up to homeless policy makers and stakeholders to make the link to de-institutionalisation and homelessness as a social challenge Earmarking depending on the type of region: For example, More developed and transition regions, at least 80 % of ERDF resources at national level should be allocated to energy efficiency and renewables, innovation SME support, of which at least 20 % should be allocated to energy efficiency and renewables. Less developed regions will have a broader range of investment priorities to choose from, reflecting their wider development needs. But they will have to devote at least 50 % of ERDF resources to energy efficiency and renewables, innovation and SME support.
EPAP: aims to reinforce commitment to fighting poverty and social exclusion and to provide a framework for action that connects Member States, European Institutions and stakeholders. Strong message on social innovation Innovation Union flagship: aims to improve conditions and access to finance for innovation and research. plans to “champion social innovation” Social Innovation Europe to provide expertise and a networked “virtual hub” for social entrepreneurs, the public and third sectors. Reference policy paper
European Union Programme for Social Change and Innovation What do they mean by social change and innovation: New responses that better meet social needs than previous intervention What do they mean by social experimentation: Experimental or quasi-experimental testing of social policy interventions to test effectiveness before scaling them up (gold standard of randomised control trials) Lots of scope in the area of homelessness Housing First Europe: 5 European cities Housing First projects are tested and evaluated from a European perspective leading to greater clarity on the potentials and limits of the approach and its impact on homeless people’s lives. These five "test sites" cities include: Amsterdam , Budapest , Copenhagen , Glasgow and Lisbon . Housing First Europe facilitates mutual learning with additional partners in five “peer sites” cities where further Housing First projects are planned or being implemented. "Peer sites" include: Dublin , Ghent, Gothenburg, Helsinki and Vienna. 2011: FEANTSA supported France with a submission on Housing First experimentation called “Un Chez Soi D’abord”. Uses randomized control trial in France (800 people, 4 cities Marseille, Toulouse, Paris, Lille) and plus mutual learning to share outcomes and enhance capacity of homeless policy makers to use this type of methodology to strenghten policies.
More robust evidence on cost-effectiveness would be very useful in current context. Also some harder evidence on the limits of this. Would be incredibly useful to test and compare different types of floating support – Assertive Community treatment, critical time intervention and intensive case management. Would be useful to test different models of targeted prevention Test and compare different models for activating various sources of housing Lots more!
Horizon 2020: New financial instrument for research and innovation funding implementing the Innovation Union, Running from 2014 to 2020 with an €80 billion budget Combine all research and innovation funding currently provided through the Framework Programmes for Research and Technical Development, the innovation related activities of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Mainstreamed through ESF and ERDF. ESF in particular is supposed to scale up social innovations. Increased co-financing rate for social innovation. Social Business Initiative: The Social Business Initiative contains a number of actions to support developemnt of social economy access to funding (including EU funding through the Structural Funds and the future setting-up of a financial instrument to provide social investment funds and financial intermediaries with equity, debt, and risk-sharing instruments), measures to improve their visibility and a simplified regulatory environment (including a future proposal for a European Foundation Statute,
EPAP, European Commission committed to “Develop the Voluntary European Quality Framework on social services at sectoral level, including in the field of long-term care and homelessness” Seems there will be a call in 2012. We will work to have a homelessness strand in the EIPA initiative Peer Reviews: Mixed outcomes but have been very useful in the past, notably 2010 peer review on Housing First. 2009 counting the homeless in Austria 2005 Denmark: preventing and tackling homelessness 2004 England Rough Sleepers’ Unit Would be valuable to have more. Should go through SPC contacts. Very little info on this so far but will follow it up and keep informed. There is clearly a bit of a capacity gap when it comes to maxising social experimentation tool so useful. Lots of scope – would be useful to have some joint reflection with interested policymakers about possible areas for experimentations.