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Glossary of EU terms

Child homelessness

Background
As part of its work on social inclusion, FEANTSA examined child homelessness in Europe to contribute to debates on child poverty - the priority issue selected for the OMC thematic light year 2007 in the framework of the EU strategy for social protection and social inclusion. FEANTSA therefore carried out a general stocktaking of child homelessness in Europe and drawn up a short European report summarising the outcomes of this exercise. The aim was to look at homeless children (including street children) who are under 18 years of age, and who are in the living situations of the ETHOS typology on homelessness and housing exclusion.
See Full report EN/FR.

Structure of the report
The report seeks to improve our general understanding of child homelessness in Europe and to what extent this is a genuine challenge for EU governments. It starts with a stocktaking exercise of definitions and perceptions of the problem (Chapter 2 ) and general trends (Chapter 3) in different European countries to better understand WHO this problem concerns. This is then followed by an analysis of WHY this phenomenon exists, namely the reasons for such forms of homelessness (Chapter 4) and the needs of children in these living situations (Chapter 5). The report proceeds to examine HOW this phenomenon is tackled identifying policies and services of general prevention through strong welfare policies (Chapter 6), and more targeted policies and services (Chapter 7) aiming to support children experiencing homelessness or children and families at risk. Chapter 8 then draws conclusions from this analysis and formulates some recommendationsfor the future.

General Trends
The report highlights two emerging trends in child homelessness:

1. Children in homeless families:
- Children in families living in temporary shelters,
- Children with their mothers living in refuges for survivors of domestic violence,
- Children in families threatened with eviction,
- Children in families living in very poor housing conditions.

2. Unaccompanied adolescents experiencing homelessness:
- Homeless adolescents
- Runaway or throwaway youths
- Unaccompanied minors
- Children in or leaving institutions

More country information is available on request. Please contact Liz Gosme liz.gosme@feantsa.org