1. Access to Affordable Quality Housing and Public Health Services
ALTER SUMMIT Defend and Promote Commons and
Public Services for all
Input: Sian Jones, Policy Coordinator
European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN)

2. Overview of Presentation
Introducing EAPN
Approach to Services
EU Role in undermining access
EAPN report – Nobody left behind: Access to Housing and Health Services
Main Messages and Recommendations

3. Introducing EAPN
Independent Network of NGOs committed to fight against poverty and social exclusion, with and for people in poverty. Primarily working in the EU Member States
31 National Networks and 16 European NGOs as members
Participation of people with direct experience of poverty must be part of the solution.
Started in 1990 – key actor in poverty programmes and development of social OMC and Europe 2020 Strategy.
Receives financial support from the European Commission (EaSi Programme)

4. Overarching approach
Poverty is a structural not an individual problem –
you can’t tackle poverty without reducing inequality…
Fairer distribution and redistribution are pre-requisites – quality jobs, tax justice and universal public services
Integrated, anti poverty strategy in place
Adequate Incomes throughout the life cycle = minimum income and social protection
Accessible and affordable public services
Inclusive, quality jobs
Participation and civil dialogue

5. What’s crucial about public services?
Public services key in ensuring universal social protection and welfare states
Essential for preventing and tackling poverty, and reducing inequality.
EAPN members alarmed at declining access to public services for people in poverty
Key causes: austerity cuts, increased marketization - privatisation/ liberalisation
Reduced access to affordable housing and health seen as main priority challenges

6. EU role in undermining public services
Services of General Interest: “basic services that are essential to the lives of the majority of the public and where the state has an obligation to ensure public standards’
Services of General Economic interest - ie ‘considered to have an economic nature’ ie where the market has an interest.
Promotion of the Internal Market (eg Services Directive) - EU sees all services as SGEI – ie justifying the entry of the market, including in social and health services of general interest
EU Economic Governance promotes liberalization and privatisation of services and austerity to reduce deficits
Major player in undermining social rights and standards in public services across the EU – will new European Pillar of Social Rights make a difference?

7. Nobody Left Behind Ensuring access for all to affordable quality housing and health services.
EAPN study based on survey of members – full contributions from 10 national networks (BE, FI, IC, IE, LV, NO, PT, SK, SE, UK) and inputs (AT, HR, CY, CZ, EE, FR, DE, IT, MA, NL, PL, RO, SR)
Aim and Objectives
To map the reality of changing access to health and housing services and analyse the impact on people at risk of poverty
Content
Overview of context – legal and policy frameworks, situation
Member’s assessment of key challenges, groups affected and main causes and solutions
Good practices and role of NGOs
Key Messages and Recommendations

8. The Right to Housing
“There are not enough houses and the houses cost too much.. So that means we end up homeless”
“It’s impossible to invite friends of my children home, my home is so poor and small… we lead a hidden life”
“I have slept in cardboard boxes. I had the choice to die on the street or take my life back. I went to social services to get help. I was confronted with enormous bureaucracy. I had to tell my story several times. It took years to get anything. I just want a place to live”

9. Main Challenges in Housing
Affordability an increasing problem-11.4% spend 40% income
Main causes
high unregulated rents in private sector
cuts to rent or income support ie rent caps
Owner occupation increasingly inaccessible
lack and cuts to social housing.
Inadequate housing - increased overcrowding – 16.9% with over 40% in BG, RO, PL, HU), 15.7% live in damp conditions.
Increasing problem of energy poverty – 10% of EU (up to 37% in some MS) – low income/high prices/low efficiency.
Rising problem of homelessness – 4 million: 25% are children, worse for Roma, migrants..

10. Right to Health Services
“Last night I was very sad, my little sister was very sick, but mum had no money to buy medicine.”
“There are great hospitals in town, but you have to pay the doctor cash to get treated – we don’t have the money”
“In Norway, dental services aren’t covered by public health – so having bad teeth is stigmatised…a sign of poverty”.

11. Main Challenges in Access to Health Services
Affordability due to:
cuts in health care and increased out of pocket payments eg PT (100%) and prescription charges
increased privatisation – eg dental care and key chronic/prevention/acute services.
declining household income/wages/support
Administrative barriers – eg residence/id/digital
Unequal coverage/quality of services -geographic, age groups, specialisms, dental, mental health care.
Long waiting times increase social gradient

12. Key Messages
Public services explicit target for policy reform particularly through austerity
Privatisation used as a means to reduce costs and attack welfare states.
Market cannot provide affordable housing, key role of state regulation and social housing.
Universal health services essential as social compact to promote health for all, prevent poverty
Direct action by excluded is key to challenge this loss of the commons.

13. Key Overarching Recommendations
A transformative social and sustainable model
Nobody left behind: guarantee right to adequate affordable quality services for all
Stop austerity and promote social investment in public services through EU funds
Benchmark and monitor social standards on adequacy, access and affordability
Carry out effective social impact assessment
Put the user at the heart of services

14. For more information Contact Sian Jones, EAPN Policy Coordinator
Boulevard Bischoffscheim 11, 1000 Brux.
Tel:
Mobile: