Belgium introduced the ‘Housing First’ (HF) model in eight cities to support homeless people with special needs: homeless people move into permanent housing as quickly as possible, and receive intensive social support in their homes whenever needed.

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Host country: Belgium

Date: 16-17 March 2016

Peer countries: Austria - Denmark - Finland - France - Hungary - Italy - Luxembourg - Netherlands - Norway - Spain

Stakeholders: Eurocities, FEANTSA

The setting of HF within Belgium’s governmental structure encouraged cities to take a strong ‘bottom-up’ approach, and to network and share experiences with other cities.

Independent evaluations have shown that the HF group had improved housing retention and health in comparison to other groups of homeless people. Tenants also reported a growth in self-esteem, and an improvement in social inclusion.

Key learning elements

• Housing First requires special financial support, which may involve lobbying regional and national authorities. EU funds (ESF, ERDF, FEAD) are also available.
• HF works for vulnerable homeless people including chronic homeless with severe needs but its efficiency for lower support need homeless people should be further examined.
• The use of evidence-based methods is key to further developing HF programmes.
• More preventative and innovative approaches are needed to prevent vulnerable people becoming homeless.
• Homeless people prefer to be housed in ‘scattered’ rather than ‘congregate’ housing.
• To improve access to existing housing, including social housing, for homeless people; more use of private sector housing and social rental agencies or other mixed tenures should be made.
• HF could be ‘scaled up’ to national levels and linked with other services. A Housing First Guide Europe and a ‘hub’ to share knowledge are developed by FEANTSA.
• Further analysis of the appropriate types of services is required as well as more research, e.g. on cost-efficiency.
• HF pursues the EU2020 aim to reduce poverty and social exclusion by providing homeless people with housing and thus helping them integrate.
• HF follows the Social Investment Package recommendations to use ‘housing-led’, integrated strategies.

Peer Review Manager

Monika Natter (ÖSB Consulting GmbH)