Zuzana Spilková: Rapid Re-Housing in Brno
Despite many programs supporting the acquisition of one’s own housing, there are many people in the Czech Republic, including children, living on the streets, in hostels or in asylum. The questions are: where is the problem? What are causes of it? What is the success rate of these programs?
The foreign experiences show that the model, which in the Czech Republic is applied the most, is not the best choice. It is called “Housing ready” and it is based on the idea that people who lost their homes have to deserve a new chance. Programs have several stages and only at the highest stage people are provided with an apartment. During the whole time people are controlled, they have less space, less autonomy and less normality than in ordinary housing. Abilities which are being trained during these programs are not the same as competencies needed in the real housing.
The programs applied abroad, for an instance in Netherlands, offer an alternative. Their name is “Housing first” and the idea is that regular and one’s own housing is a necessary right in a life of a human being. It grounds on an argument that nothing can prepare people for living in their own housing but their own housing.
Rapid Re-Housing
The Moravian metropolis Brno wants to change and improve the situation in the Czech Republic, so Brno approved of the innovative project in February 2016. This project is called Rapid Re-Housing and is based on the Housing First approach. It is focused mainly on families with children, who are living in hostels, asylums or other forms of unsatisfactory housing. The goal of the project is to find housing for these families and help them to keep it. Currently some families have already had their own housing.
The first step of the project was a questionnaire-based inquiry conducted in April, result of which was the finding that at least 421 families in Brno live in inappropriate conditions. The problems are typically an unsuitable size or condition of the housing. The next step took place in June when 150 families were chosen on the basis of random choice to be involved into the research. Another random lottery chooses 50 families from these 150, these fifty family got chance to acquire a new housing. During the research phase families that got the lease agreement will be supervised by a social worker at least once a week. The worker will help the family to keep the housing and he or she can also help the family to solve their financial and debt situation. The family will have to follow the lease agreement including paying for the housing and paying their debts. The family will have to agree that they are going to ask for housing support to pay for the housing (this has to happen before the family move in).
The first group from those 50 draw families were mainly single mothers. Since the beginning of September 2016 two families are moving to their new flats and the lease agreement of some others has been approved. The remaining one hundred families will be a control group for a comparison of results. The researchers will for example focus on the school result of children or parent’s employment. The evaluation will be done after one year.
Why is Housing First good?
Foreign experiences with this program show good results. Up 97 percent people keep the housing if they were involved into the Housing first program. For comparison the applicants using Housing
ready programs failed in 80 percent during the way to get the housing. The result shows it is easier to fulfil some requirements if you have housing than if you are living in a hostel. Furthermore the conditions in the Housing first programs are more liberal. Those who are involved into these programs have to pay rent, be somehow decent neighbour and tenant and accept the assistance from the social service, which can help them if it is necessary.
Another good thing about this project is that people do not have to save money to pay surety for housing. Some renters require a double or triple rent at the beginning as a fuse in case of any trouble (people would not be able to pay or they would destroy the housing etc.). But for many people in need is a problem to save this amount of money, even if they can be able to pay a rent each month It can be risky, but the authors and participants of the program try to reduce the risk by supervision from social care. And maybe if people will have the housing, they could be able to save more money than so far.
From all points above, Housing first seems as good attempt to the social housing, which should be tested. The Czech Republic could invest money more effectively, the places in hostels and asylum can be available for people who need it acutely, the situation of people in need can be better. It is necessary to convince institutions and people, who make decisions and also potential new neighbours that Housing first can work also here in Czech Republic and it is worth to try it.