An alternative approach to welfare could replace policies that are failing to address homelessness.
Homelessness is an increasing problem across the developed world, and existing policy responses are failing to make an impact. In Australia, for instance, homelessness has increased despite聽聽in (predominantly crisis-oriented) specialist homelessness services.
Employment insecurity and the rising cost of living are also taking a toll and expanding the profile of those at risk of homelessness. Anglicare鈥檚聽聽shows that people on low incomes and single parents are especially struggling to meet their housing costs.
In a聽, Dr Andrew Clarke, at the聽School of Social Sciences听补迟听国产精品 Arts, Design & Architecture, considers whether a universal basic income (UBI) could help address the shortcomings of existing policy responses to homelessness. The paper synthesises existing research on homelessness in Australia, highlighting the limitations of current policies and how a UBI can help address them.
鈥淓vidence shows our current responses to homelessness are failing. We put more and more money into homelessness services and yet, overall, homelessness continues to rise,鈥 says Dr Clarke.
鈥淭his is a sign we have to do something different in our approach to homelessness. A universal basic income policy could be part of a new and more effective solution, which could help address some of the structural issues that lead to homelessness.鈥
A UBI is a periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to聽everyone聽in society without a means test or work requirements, and regardless of their circumstances, says Dr Clarke. It's a policy idea that is gaining traction internationally in response to worsening socioeconomic insecurity and in the last five聽years, various聽聽have taken place in Scotland, Netherlands and Finland. 聽
鈥淎 UBI is an opportunity to transform the logic of our welfare system and begin addressing the structural causes of poverty and homelessness. Implementing a UBI could help address the 鈥榠ncome side鈥 of the housing crisis driving homelessness. But it would need to be coupled with other policies such as rent controls and increases to social housing supply,鈥 Dr Clarke says.
Evidence shows our current responses to homelessness are failing.
Why our current policy approach can鈥檛 address homelessness
罢丑别听聽in 2020 that around 1.9 million people are homeless across the developed world, causing profound impacts on individuals, communities and placing burdens on our health, justice and social service systems. Australia鈥檚 current policy聽responses are failing to address homelessness because they鈥檙e too concerned with providing targeted support and ignore structural factors, says Dr Clarke.
鈥淥ur current policies provide a temporary safety net that only steps in when housing and labour markets don鈥檛 work out for people. They鈥檙e highly targeted and conditional, which is the opposite of a universal, unconditional provision proposed by UBI policy.
鈥淐urrent policies only really provide targeted support to people once they're already experiencing homelessness or are at imminent risk of homelessness. This is the opposite of universal measures, like a UBI, which ensure that everyone鈥檚 basic needs are met, thus helping prevent homelessness risks from emerging," says Dr Clarke.
鈥淭he problem with an approach that only provides targeted support is that it treats homelessness as purely the result of the personal circumstances of support recipients 鈥 the fact that they have chronic health issues, are fleeing a violent relationship, lack financial or domestic skills, etc. However, these circumstances only result in homelessness because people鈥檚 incomes are inadequate or insecure and housing is so unaffordable. Homelessness is first and foremost a housing problem.鈥
Dr Clarke says we have to pair existing targeted measures with universal policies that address the structural causes of homelessness 鈥 a shortage of affordable housing options and people鈥檚 ability to pay for the housing they require.
Stigma and social insecurity of targeted welfare
Relying too heavily on targeted homeless and welfare programs also creates stigma and shame for those who need to access support. By focusing on fixing people鈥檚 personal problems and circumstances, targeted homelessness services can inadvertently imply that individuals are themselves to blame for their situation.
鈥淚f a person seeks support from a homelessness service because their rent's gone up, but all that service can offer is financial counselling or mental health support, that person will likely feel like they鈥檙e the problem,鈥 says Dr Clarke.
鈥淭his can be a really stigmatising experience and can lead to people avoiding reaching out for support.
鈥淪ociety currently thinks of people experiencing homelessness as 鈥榙eficient鈥 individuals and that if you need welfare, you have failed as a person. Naturally, many who are experiencing homelessness don鈥檛 want to be identified that way.鈥
A UBI should be a serious policy consideration when it comes to addressing homelessness, especially as our current approach is increasingly costing more and not working.
How can a UBI help address homelessness?
Dr Clarke says a UBI can help address homelessness because it will circumvent stigma associated with needs-based welfare. But most importantly, it will help address structural issues that drive homelessness 鈥 the lack of and inability to pay for affordable housing.聽聽
鈥淩eceiving UBI payments won鈥檛 be a stigmatising experience because payments are offered to all,鈥 says Dr Clarke. 鈥淚f everyone is receiving a basic income, then no one can be marked out as different or deficient.
鈥淎lso, if payments are universal, then there鈥檚 no need for a massive, inefficient bureaucracy that only exists to monitor people in order to make sure they only receive what they are entitled to.鈥
What a basic income can do is guarantee a way of addressing the income side of the homelessness equation, Dr Clarke says.
鈥淚t can bolster low incomes and address the income insecurity that comes with intermittent, casualised work 鈥 a growing reality for many individuals.鈥
How else can we tackle homelessness?
While a UBI can contribute to addressing the income side of homelessness, it can鈥檛 address the other structural driver which is a lack of affordable housing 鈥 the supply side.
鈥淭here are two more things required to make a UBI work in addressing homelessness. One is we need to boost affordable housing stock outside of the private market. This means more social housing,鈥 Dr Clarke says.
鈥淲e would also need to control market fluctuations and prevent a UBI from being absorbed by rising rents. Without rent controls, a UBI would potentially be soaked up by further rent increases.
鈥淥verall, a UBI should be a serious policy consideration when it comes to addressing homelessness, especially as our current approach is increasingly costing more and not working.鈥
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