1. The homeless must be recognised as a distinct group within the socially excluded, because they have particular needs that require specific solutions. The homeless often suffer extreme poverty and their needs can be obscured if classified together with other socially disadvantaged groups. Furthermore, the homeless must not be seen as a homogenous group, and particularly not restricted to rough sleepers or more visible forms of homelessness. Hidden homelessness must be acknowledged as a central concern within strategies.
   
   
2. A strategy for addressing homelessness must be gender-mainstreamed to avoid male-centric planning, provision and evaluation.
   
   
3. The homeless must have guaranteed access to fundamental rights so that they can participate in society as full citizens. These rights include: equal access to employment, healthcare, social welfare, such as pensions and subsistence incomes, education, culture and leisure, justice and democratic rights and information. Any solution to homelessness must be based on a solid foundation of these rights if the homeless are to be fully reintegrated into society.
   
   
4. It is crucial that projects are planned and funded such that they provide long-term solutions. It is lasting interventions that will have the most enduring impact on homeless persons.
   
   
5. Where possible, policies should be enforced on a solid statutory basis, with the threat of sanctions imposed on parties who do not commit to agreements.
   
   
6. Public and private housing associations must be encouraged to address the lack of social housing available to the most disadvantaged groups, and acknowledge the structural problems facing these groups in accessing adequate accommodation.
   
   
7. Policy-makers must be in consistent dialogue with civil society organisations that work with the homeless and with other policy-makers at different levels. A framework of negotiation must be clear.
   
   
8. Both quantitative and qualitative evidence should be used as evaluation methods so that soft indicators, such as increase in self-esteem, are given equal weight to more tangible measurements.
   
   
9. Homeless persons, particularly women, have specific health needs because of their multifaceted physical and mental health problems.

Common recommendations to service providers from all three sub-themes of Catch:

1. Attention must be focused on the needs of clients and traditional services must be customised to meet these needs. This may require innovative methods, such as creating jobs for the homeless through entrepreneurialism.
   
   
2. Homelessness is a multidimensional problem and requires that many different services are provided alongside one another in an integrated method of practice.
   
   
3. Efforts must be made to ensure the empowerment of clients, avoiding a ‘charitable approach’ to service provision. For example, it is crucial that decisions are made between the client and the service provider, such that the client ‘owns’ his or her own solutions.
   
   
4. Clients must be given space to share their experiences with others and create informal networks. This is both therapeutic and a way of accessing vital information about the client’s situation. Support facilities for homeless women and men should help to make it possible.
   
   
5. The Homeless must be approached in their habitual environment. This ensures that clients who are unable to find the services are reached. Furthermore, this may help clients overcome any fear or lack of trust they may have in public services.
   
   
6. Service providers must, wherever possible, provide input to local, regional and international policy makers. This may involve research or identifying where gaps in research exist.
   
   
7. Service providers must forge relationships with as many relevant partners as possible, within and across sectors, so that services are as integrated as possible. Partners should also share good practice with each other.
   
   
8. The model of reception, prevention and reintegration should be at the heart of service provision, ensuring long-term solutions. Prevention measures should include education and campaigning with the wider purpose of raising awareness and changing public and institutional attitudes towards homeless people.
   
   
9. Service providers must safeguard homeless people from violence. It is important for women to have their own physical space that is safe from male contact and they must have their own facilities. Violent behaviour against women could be an issue in a mixed hostel. In addition, some women may have suffered from domestic violence previously and it should be a priority to safeguard them from this happening again.
   
   
10. It is essential that staff working with homeless women are female. Staff must be aware of the social disadvantages experienced by women and must have experience of female-specific approaches to working with the homeless.
    

Homelessness and Re-integration into the Labour Market – Transition Actions - Appendix 1 {pdf}

Homelessness and Mental Health Problems - Appendix 2 {pdf}

Homelessness and Services for Women - Appendix 3 {pdf}