European Migration Network (EMN) inform “Access to autonomous housing in the context of international protection” delves into the challenges and existing support services in accessing autonomous housing in the context of international protection.
Autonomous housing within the context of this inform is defined as a housing solution different from accommodation provided in the context of material reception conditions, i.e. centres, private houses, flats, hotels or other adapted premises. The concept of autonomous housing includes any housing within the private housing market for which applicants and/or beneficiaries of international protection may have received financial or other type support from the EMN Member and Observer Country, but not directly provided in the context of material reception conditions. Public or social housing provided outside the context of material reception conditions (as part of mainstreaming policies for the general population) is included under the definition of autonomous housing used here.
Key challenges reported by nearly all EMN Member countries and Serbia include the general shortage of housing and consequent increase in housing prices, coupled with long waiting lists within the social rental sector and discrimination in the private market. Language barriers and administrative obstacles also pose significant challenges in accessing autonomous housing.
Most countries have specific procedures and/or measures to ease the transition from housing assistance provided under the reception system to autonomous housing. These include information/counselling (e.g. on the functioning of the housing market), placements in transitional housing, and extending the period of time for which beneficiaries of international protection can stay in reception centres, allowing more time to find autonomous housing.
The majority of EMN Member Countries and Serbia also have targeted policies and measures at central, regional and/or local level to support access to autonomous housing for beneficiaries of international protection. These include direct housing allocation, the provision of financial assistance, counselling and support to search for housing (e.g. identifying suitable properties, filling in housing applications) and mediation services.
By contrast, applicants for international protection who wish to access autonomous housing outside the reception system usually do not receive any form of targeted support. Beneficiaries of international protection can typically access mainstream social and housing support services. Conversely, applicants for international protection do not have access to these services.
In Latvia, the main challenges also include the lack of housing and its high cost, the property owners’ reluctance to rent to asylum seekers and persons with refugee or alternative status, as well as the insufficient financial resources for the down payment and deposit. The Society Integration Foundation in cooperation with the non-governmental organization “I want to help refugees” provided the services of a social worker and a social mentor to asylum seekers and persons with refugee or alternative status in order to promote their full socio-economic integration in Latvia, which indirectly also includes providing assistance in finding autonomous housing. In Latvia, as in the majority of EMN Member States, persons with refugee or alternative status can access mainstream social and housing support services, while asylum seekers do not have such access.