Social Housing Allocation and Homelessness EOH Comprative Studies on Homelessness, Brussels-December 2011

This report is the first in a new series of the European Observatory of Homelessness (EOH) that explores pan-European issues in homelessness through the use of a questionnaire sent to a group of national experts. The report looks at the relationship between social housing and homelessness in 13 EU member states, examining how different strategic roles for social housing and varying allocation policies impact on the extent to which social housing is used to tackle homelessness. The report identifies the ways in which social housing can provide a housing solution for some groups of homeless people, while often playing little or no role in addressing the housing needs of other groups of homeless people. The research also looks at how the differing levels, forms and functions of social housing influence the relationship of the tenure towards homelessness. The report makes recommendations as to how social housing providers can take a more active role in helping to end homelessness.