FEANTSA Online Conference Week
5-9 October 2020
Due to Covid19 we were forced to postpone our annual conference until June 2021. While we are looking forward to bringing our members and wider network together to discuss solutions, policies, research and evidence to prevent and end homelessness in Europe, we also wanted to bring our network together online in 2020. Below you can find the presentations and recordings from the webinars.
Mon, Oct 5, 10:00 AM
Preventing Homelessness by Preventing Evictions
Evictions have become a more noticeable cause of homelessness in many European countries. This workshop will explore tools at the disposal of service providers to both prevent rental evictions and support tenancy sustainment. It will also address how services may support people who have been evicted to help them exit homelessness. We will then hear about the legal work of ERRC on litigation and advocacy about prevention, legalization of dwellings and settlements and demands for moratoriums on evictions in several countries.
Speakers:
Introduction by Maria Aldanas - Access it here.
- Steffen Schäfer, City of Karlsruhe, Germany - Access his presentation here.
- Bernard Rorke, European Roma Research Centre, Hungary
Watch the webinar here.
Mon, Oct 5, 11:30 AM
LGBTIQ Homelessness
2019 was a landmark year for FEANTSA’s work on LGBTIQ homelessness. With our first study session devoted to the topic and a research study conducted on to understand the challenges faced by homeless services to better support LGBTIQ youth has led to an improved understanding of how services can better respond to LGBTIQ youth homelessness. This workshop will share a combination of research from FEANTSA’s study on LGBTIQ homelessness across Europe and the findings from Focus Ireland research on how LGBTIQ youth navigate homelessness services in Ireland. The workshops will wrap up with an example from France/Italy on how services are adapting to the needs of LGBTIQ.
Speakers:
-Clare Hart, Le Refuge, France - Access the presentation here.
-Mike Allen, Focus Ireland, Ireland - Access the presentation here
Mon, Oct 5, 03.00 PM
Asylum Seekers & Refugees - Insights from the 5th Overview of Housing Exclusion in Europe
The 5th Annual Overview of Housing Exclusion in Europe examines the latest homelessness and housing exclusion data, assessing EU countries' capacity to adequately house their population. It has taken reception and accommodation conditions for asylum seekers and refugees as the thematic focus for 2020. This workshop will provide an overview of the key findings of the report and how homeless services are responding to the reception crisis, followed by a discussion with representatives from national and European levels.
Speakers:
-Dominika Spyratou, Solidarity Now, Greece - Access the presentation here.
- Chloe Sermin Morin, FEANTSA - Access the presentation here
Tue, Oct 6, 10:00 AM
Daring Housing Solutions
In 2019 & 2020 the Housing Solutions Platform with the support of an expert steering committee compiled 50 innovative practices to deliver affordable housing solutions. This workshop will provide an overview of some of the interesting practices identified and the implications/relevance for homeless services including the role of social housing companies and looking at the impact of social rental agencies in 5 central and eastern European countries.
Speakers:
- Michael Newey, Group Chief Executive, Homes for Cathy, UK - Access the presentation here
- Hanna Szemzo & Ester Somogyi, Homelab Project, Metropolitan Research Institute, Hungary - Access the presentation here
There is no recording for this event.
Tue, Oct 6, 11:30 AM
Homelessness Among EU Mobile Citizens
Homelessness among mobile EU citizens has been on the rise in recent years, but comprehensive and comparable data on their situation across the EU remain scarce. Within the PRODEC project coordinated by FEANTSA, we are piloting an activity which aims to collect data on the factors contributing to vulnerability among destitute mobile EU citizens in several Member States. During this seminar, we will offer details on the main findings from the first phase of the data collection, specifically from Brussels. The free movement of EU citizens is also analyzed from a legal perspective: the “Fitness Check Report for Sweden” evaluates the transposition of the EU Directive 2004/38/EC into the Swedish legal system, identifying practical obstacles faced by EU citizens when exercising free movement and searching for a job. During this seminar we will present an overview of the Fitness Check Report.
Speakers:
-Martin Enquist-Källgren & Fabrizio Vittoria, Momentius LPA, Sweden - Access the presentation here
-Mauro Striano, Bruss'Help, Belgium - Access the presentation here
Tue, Oct 6, 03:00 PM
Shifting Mindsets from the Staircase Model to Housing First
Housing First has become a popular intervention to support people experiencing homelessness and in recent years a huge focus has been placed on shifting services from the staircase model to housing led or housing first systems. With many services having undergone this transition what are the key challenges? What have we learned? And what does this mean for services interested in the shift? The workshop will present the mind shift which has undergone in Poland, Spain & Slovakia in how Housing First has been implemented.
Speakers:
-Jakub Wilczek, Polish National Federation for Solving the Problem of Homelessness, Poland - Access the presentation here.
-Vanesa Cenjor, Hogar Si, Spain - Access the presentation here.
Wed, Oct 7, 10:00 AM
Women's Homelessness
Successful interventions to combat women’s homelessness requires a specific focus on the unique needs of women who experience homelessness. This workshop will explore how two different countries respond to these unique needs. From Italy participants will learn how Psychologically Informed Environments were implemented to support women in shelters and from Germany participants will learn about federal and local policies targeted at municipal housing and social policies to provide adequate services to women in emergency situations.
Speakers:
- Maria Lusia Ponetlli, fio.PSD, Italy - Access the presentation here
- Sabine Bosing, BAG Wohnungslosenhilfe, Germany -Access the presentation here
Wed, Oct 7, 03:00 PM
Coalition Building to End Youth Homelessness
In the past two years we have seen an increase in the number of coalitions to end youth homelessness in Europe. They have grown as a direct response to the structural barriers creating youth homelessness and preventing young people from exiting homelessness. This workshop will examine the impact and change these coalitions have achieved.
Speakers:
- An Rommel, A Way Home Antwerp, Belgium - Access the presentation here
- Sabrina Galella, A Way Home Scotland, Rock Trust, Scotland - Access the presentation here
Thur, October 10, 10:00 AM
Social Enterprises & Homelessness
In this webinar we will look at the impact and value of social enterprises in the homelessness sector. This webinar will provide an overview and analysis of social enterprise models, linked to the forthcoming European action plan on homelessness. There will also be a presentation from Spielen Hilft, a social enterprise in Germany which provides an escape room experience simulating the experience of homelessness.
Speakers:
- Donna Wandt, Spielen Hilft, Germany - Access the presentation here
- Robbie Stakelum, FEANTSA, Belgium - Access the presentation here
There is no recording for this webinar
Thur, October 10, 11.30 AM
Covid19 & Homelessness
Covid19 has presented many unexpected challenges to homeless services. While countries move in and out of lockdowns and quarantines services face new challenges to supporting people experiencing homelessness. This webinar will hear from a medical professional leading the response on Covid19 for people experiencing homelessness in Dublin and a service provider on the frontlines to discuss their approach.
Speakers:
- Dr. Austin O'Carroll, Safety Net, Ireland
- Sanna Tiivola, No fixed Abode, Finland - Access the Presentation here
Fri, Oct 9, 10:00 AM
Child & Family Homelessness
Family homelessness is rising in Europe, often accompanied with young children traditional homeless services are not adequately designed for young families. With children living in poverty growing the EU is considering plans for a Child Guarantee. This workshop will focus on how services and a child guarantee can support child and family homelessness.
Speakers:
-Hana Kosan, Kings of the Street, Slovenia - Access the presentation here
-Clotilde Clark-Foulquier, FEANTSA, Belgium - Access the presentation here
Fri, Oct 9, 11:30 AM
Housing First for Youth
Youth homelessness is rising in most EU countries and Housing First for Youth has grown as an intervention to support young people experiencing homelessness. This workshop will provide an overview of research and evidence specific to Housing First for Youth services to demonstrate the effectiveness of this youth-oriented solution.
Speakers:
-Deborah Quilgars, University of York, UK - Access the presentation here.
-Melanie Schmidt, Voorzitter Housing First Nederland , Kwartiermaker Housing First bij, Limor Netherlands - Access the presentation here
Fri, Oct 9 03:00 PM
Using European Funds to Combat Homelessness
European funds can be a valuable source of financing for combatting homelessness at national level. This workshop will shine a light on how countries have organised their European funds to combat homelessness and provide insights in how to work with your national managing authority to use European funds to combat homelessness.
Speakers:
-Caterina Cortese, fio.PSD, Italy - Access the presentation here
-Dominika Spyratou, Solidarity Now, Greece
