Research of the homeless population in the Czech Republic from the viewpoint of economic activity as a function of the various phases of the life cycle
The aim of the project is to provide a summary of data obtained on the current situation of the homeless population in the Czech Republic and to outline the development of trends concerning the homeless population in the Czech Republic with respect to their economic activity.
The analysis of the current situation of the homeless population in the Czech Republic concerns the “roofless and houseless” categories of persons as defined by the ETHOS international typology. Specifically, these categories comprise: 1. persons who live outdoors; 2. persons who live in dormitory accommodation; 3. persons accommodated in shelters and municipal hostels for the homeless.
The project includes the collection of an extensive set of data at the national level. The data collection process has several phases:
1. the compilation of a homeless census – a census of the above categories, both in facilities that provide social services for the homeless (low-threshold centres, dormitories and shelters), and according to census districts that have been identified as having areas inhabited by the target group (census date: April 2019);
2. the collection of supplementary data from hospitals, prisons and shelters;
3. research on the homeless population – a more detailed quantitative survey, which follows on temporally and factually from the Census of the homeless (data collection: May 2019).
The second phase of the project (2020–2021) includes the detailed refinement of the approach to the conducting of the census so as to be able to define a methodology that can be applied in the future on a recurring basis by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. In addition, the methodology is being supplemented by a procedure for the counting of those persons included in the houseless categories according to the ETHOS typology who were not included in the census conducted in 2019 (residents of commercial hostels, refugee accommodation for foreigners, persons due to leave institutional care for children and foster care). Furthermore, a new methodology is being developed for the census of two other categories of persons who are included in the European typology of homelessness and exclusion from housing (ETHOS), i.e. the precarious housing and substandard housing categories. Both methodologies include a description of the data collection processes involved and precise definitions of the census target groups tailored to the specific conditions and data collection options of the Czech environment.
Outputs
NEŠPOROVÁ, Olga & Petr HOLPUCH, 2021. Population of homeless persons in the Czech Republic. Policy Brief VÚPSV, v. v. i., 2. (only in CZE)
Methodology for the census of people in precarious and inadequate housing. (only in CZE)
Data archive
(primary data)
Homeless persons 2019:
Questionnaire – Homeless population research
Quantitative Research – Technical Report (June 2019)
Data (in SPSS format) are available on request: Head of the Family Policy Department