Temporary Shelters and Roma Housing Inclusion: Policy Learning and the Politics of Incremental Care

In Europe, a considerable number of cities have established provisional accommodations for the Roma population, based on ethnicity, to address acute housing insecurity. In the event of eviction, fire, or destruction of a shantytown, individuals may be offered shelter in these facilities. In certain instances, access may be granted in the event of extreme weather conditions or following the birth of a child. The shelters provide a range of housing assistance programs, offering temporary accommodation for women and their children or for the entire household.

Emergency shelters are designed to be provisional solutions, to prevent individuals from residing in unsuitable locations or on the streets. Such facilities are staffed on-site to provide social support, focusing on facilitating access to stable employment and housing. How did they successfully navigate the inherent tension between providing care and maintaining control? This study aims to analyze whether these facilities are merely substandard shelters or represent a potential avenue for social care, support, and empowerment. What forms of criticism have social workers, volunteers, recipients, and local policymakers encountered regarding these shelters? Has there been an observable improvement in the quality of care provided?

A total of 128 in-depth interviews and 10 focus groups were conducted with individuals who self-identified as Roma. Furthermore, 27 interviews were conducted with policymakers and administrators, activists, and other key informants at the local, regional, and national levels. The case studies were conducted in Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Gyöngyös, Miskolc, Sighișoara, and Sfântu Gheorghe.

The paper elucidates how temporary shelters facilitate the formation of emotional connections, resolve issues about the relationship with the local environment, and create a sense of belonging in a manner that incrementally empowers the recipients. The tensions between identity, community, and security proved an effective means of understanding the complex interrelationship between shelters, neighbourhoods, and care practices.