Children rough sleepers and runaways: a european research project

1. Children rough sleepers and runaways: a european research project With Financial Support from the DAPHNE III Programme of the European Union

2. A Study Relating to Children Rough Sleepers who are Runaways,Homeless and Victims of Sexual Exploitation/Abuse and other Violence on the Streets and the Development of Knowledge Transfer Activities that Improve Services and Policies to Support and Protect these Vulnerable Children. 2 year project Jan 2013 to Jan 2015 European Partner Countries: • UK • Netherlands • Poland • Hungary • Portugal • Slovenia • Czech Republic • Spain • Romania Project value: €1,248,000 Euros

3. CRS definitions: • Definition of Child: • For the purposes of this study, we are using the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child that defines a child as "a human being below the age of 18 years.” • NB: Some of the countries who are partners in this research project have alternative domestic definitions of a child; for some this may mean that statistics which are available and which we may use, may define a child as a young person up to the age of 21. Should this be the case, this will be indicated within the research.

4. Definition of Homelessness: • For the purposes of this study we will be using as a starting point the definition contained within Article 27 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which asserts; • “State Parties recognize the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development. Homelessness denies each one of those rights.” • According to an Inter-NGO Program on street children and youth, a street child is; • “any girl or boy who has not reached adulthood, for whom the street (in the widest sense of the word, including unoccupied dwellings, wasteland, etc.) has become his or her habitual abode and/or source of livelihood, and who is inadequately protected, directed, and supervised by responsible adults.”

5. For the purposes of this study we shall determine that Homelessness /Houselessness /Rooflessness for children will be defined in the broadest sense according to the following definitions in order to reflect both the specific experiences of children and also the cultural dimensions and differences within partner countries in the study. • Living on the street in the widest sense including inhabiting wasteland, unoccupied dwellings, sleeping or bedded down in the open air (streets, doorways, parks, for example) using non-significant or sporadic specialized resources or housed homeless and living in the open or in non adapted accommodation. • Children who spend the majority of their time on the street or outside of the care of responsible adults. • Living in a situation where that child is inadequately protected, directed or supervised by responsible adults. • Children who run away, leave home or are thrown out, commonly referred to as ‘Runaways’: including young people who stay away from home for at least one night without the permission of their parent or carer. • A homeless child who has no home where they can be expected to live, and who may be staying with friends, in a hostel, a refuge or in a shelter or another type of ad hoc or temporary accommodation. • A street homeless child who is sleeping rough outside on the street or elsewhere in a place not designed for regular sleeping or who is living in accommodation not designed for human habitation. • Children in “roving” accommodation. • Roofless according to the European ETHOS typology of “triple exclusion” that is, social or legal or physical.

6. The context of the countries in the study: Romania – no data; discrimination within systems; increases in drug and alcohol use and smoking in young people. Netherlands – “zwerfjongeren” refers to under 23; problems of living rather than sleeping on the street ; lack of coherent policies; links with homelessness & ADHD in boys. Poland – no reliable data; explicit social problems & pathologies within families. Spain – linked to poverty & the economic crisis; most institutionalised; problems of unaccompanied foreign minors, migrants and ineffective post institution resettlement. Slovenia – no definitions or laws specific to children except for ‘parental neglect.’ Issues with Roma children. Hungary – dictatorship; 10% live in poverty/destitution; poor knowledge; economic crisis and problems with trafficking.

7. The context of the countries in the study: Czech Republic – no data for under 18’s; repressive social measures against all street people incl. children; no professional guidelines Portugal – Little data; lack of political will; welfare changes have hit the poorest families. UK – 70,000 est. children in homeless households; 120,000 est. stateless children; research req. into effects of welfare regimes and effects of drugs, alcohol, trafficking & sex work.

8. The Journey to Homelessness / Running Away / Rough Sleeping • Early onset trauma: a) Abuse/poverty within families b) Institutionalisation c) Absence of role models d) Lack of education / lack of life skills education

10. b) institutionalisation • UK – 36% • Slovenia – 53% • Hungary – 100% • Poland – 50% • Netherlands – 71% • Spain – 6% • Portugal – 45% • Czech Republic – 80% • Romania – 5%

11. c) Absence of role models • 22% stated that they had no help and support before ending up on the streets • 19% stated that the help and support they had was poor • 26% stated that the support they had was helpful • The highest levels of ‘no help and support’ was found in UK [36%], Poland [45%], Netherlands [24%], Czech Republic [30%].

13. d) education:

14. PREVALENCE OF SEX WORK, GANG MEMBERSHIP, STREET CRIME, USE OF WEAPONS & STREET VIOLENCE [a] Sex Work (only reported in the UK) [b] Gang Membership (30% or more) [c] Committing Street Crimes [d] Having or Using Weapons on the Streets [e] Subject to Street Violence [Sexual or Otherwise] (UK & NDL score much higher)

19. Prevention • Abuse • Family Environment • Early Intervention • Supported Care • Awareness Raising and Education • Guidance and Support • Poverty Reduction • Attitudes and Behaviour

20. Summary: risk factors Being a boy Coming from a single (mother) household / not having an appropriate role model Truanting from school  Having learning difficulties at school Smoking, taking drugs and drinking Many CRSR experience violence on the streets, but there are clear differences in this between countries (UK and NL score much higher) On average more than 30% (and in any case considerable percentages in each country) have been in a gang whilst on the street. The child protection system The cumulative effect

21. Key messages to policy makers so far… • Awareness raising of issues exacerbated by economic climates • Prevention & empowerment for diverse populations incl. stateless, immigrants, runaways or those from homeless households • The stable adult / role model – Netherlands “social parenting.” • Greater political commitment to acknowledging the links between poverty, social exclusion and resultant homelessness

22. CRS European Network Membership Why join the Children Rough Sleepers Project Network? • Access to latest information on Children Rough Sleepers & sharing news/best practices • Access to FREE Newsletter • FREE membership • Access to funding information • Access to FREE training/workshops • Access to FREE conferences • Be part of a European network of specialists, organisations & services working together to tackle rough sleeping • Be part of a ‘joined-up’ voice Please complete your forms and hand to Paramjit Singh or Professor Kate Moss

23. Thank you for listening Professor Kate Moss Paramjit Singh k.moss@wlv.ac.uk P.singh6@wlv.ac.uk With Financial Support from the DAPHNE III Programme of the European Union