Homeless individuals with complex needs

The Policy for Homeless Individuals with Complex Needs for 2019–2025 was approved at the City Council meeting on October 11, 2019. The Policy is based on the European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion (ETHOS).

ETHOS

The ETHOS typology identifies four main categories divided into 13 operational categories:

  • Rooflessness (being on the street)
  • Houselessness (being without housing)
  • Living in inadequate housing
  • Living in insecure housing

Homeless individuals with complex needs are those struggling with multiple issues (substance and/or psychiatric disorders, developmental abnormalities, and/or significant life trauma), experiencing varying periods of housing instability, and requiring diverse support services. They need specialized low-threshold service and living resources consisting of removing barriers for the purpose of facilitating the individuals’ use of the services.

Housing First

In working with homeless individuals with complex needs, emphasis is placed on respect for the individual, empowerment, and enhancing their self-esteem.

The work follows the Housing First (HF) philosophy of harm reduction.

The action plan sets out eight overarching objectives and defines action strategies for each of them.

https://www.reykjavik.is/frettir/ny-stefna-i-malefnum-heimilislausra 

The Policy outlines the City of Reykjavík’s vision for the future of homeless individuals with complex needs. Examples:

  • Allocating 20 tiny houses by the end of 2021
  • Assessing immediate housing needs in terms of the needs of homeless women
  • Felagsbustadir Social Housing should buy nine adjacent apartments for women where 24-hour service will be provided
  • Félagsbústaðir Social Housing should buy 11 apartments to be allocated in accordance with the philosophy of Housing First

Expenditures

City of Reykjavík expenditure on homeless persons' issues.

The cost for housing solutions for homeless individuals with complex needs and people with alcohol and substance abuse problems has significantly increased over the past decade. In 2010, it was just under 200 million kr. a year but in 2019 it was over 730 million kr. and it is estimated to exceed 1,200 million kr. in 2020.

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According to the 2021-2025 budget, the cost of housing resources is expected to amount annually to almost 1,366 million kr.

Therefore, the estimated total cost of housing resources for the homeless over the next five years is 6,830 million kr.

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