The Project

In 2006 Homeless Link undertook a project to understand better the issues faced by homeless A8 (Polish, Lithuanian, Estonian, Latvian, Slovenian, Slovakian, Hungarian and the Czech) nationals and the agencies responding to their needs. This included a snapshot survey of London day centres, outreach teams and night shelters and follow-on interviews with providers who have developed specialised services.

Funding has now been granted to take forward a policy project around the issues highlighted in that report, to include A8 and also A2 (Romanian and Bulgarian) nationals. The project aims to work with government departments, the homelessness sector and a wide range of other partners to develop an action plan to reduce levels of rough sleeping among people from Central and Eastern Europe.

The project focusses on rough sleeping in London, but it is expected that the solutions identified in the action plan will be relevant to other areas across the country.

Further Developments

• Our Action Plan targeted at reducing rough sleeping among Central and Eastern Europeans in London has now been published and is available to download.

• The baseline survey on Central and Eastern European rough sleepers in London is now available. This is the initial publication from Homeless Link's Central and Eastern Europeans Project. The survey, which involved outreach teams from across London, found that 18% of rough sleepers contacted during a week in November 2007 were from Central and Eastern Europe.

• Homeless Link has responded to the European Commission's consultation on Europe's Social Reality. Our response highlighted that free movement of workers in the European Union is not currently supported by suitable access to social benefits, housing or healthcare, whether as a national of one country or a guest in another.

Conferences and Events

On 11 December 2007 Homeless Link, in partnership with Hammersmith and Fulham Council, held a seminar on Central and Eastern European Migrants. The event highlighted past research, current responses in Hammersmith and Fulham, and allowed delegates to contribute towards the development of the action plan to reduce levels of rough sleeping.

The presentations from the event are below:

Homeless Link Research - Linda Briheim-Crookall

Routes Into London's Homelessness Services - Becky Rice, Broadway

Homeless Link Baseline - Oliver Hilbery

Barka 6 Month Pilot - James Morris, Hammersmith and Fulham Council

Barka - Barbara Sadowska, Barka

Ur4jobs Janie Kidston, Upper Room

Back to the main Central and Eastern Europeans Page

For more information please contact Linda Briheim-Crookall