Homeless without benefits: the non-take-up problem

Abstract

Despite the extensive literature on non-take-up of rights in welfare states, the problem has been little studied in relation to homelessness specifically. Part of a larger research project on homelessness services, the present study examined the issue in Israel. The review of the literature points to methodological problems in assessing non-take-up, which may be reduced by using administrative data. Based on questionnaire responses of 107 participants working with people experiencing homelessness, 13 interviews, grey literature and quantitative administrative data, the findings suggest that in 2016, only 38% and 48% of people experiencing homelessness in Israel have taken up income and rent support, respectively, due to structural and bureaucratic barriers and cost-benefit calculations that factor in social stigmas. Ways of reducing bureaucratic barriers and ensuring welfare provision to prevent and end homelessness are discussed, as is the possibility of institutional compassion as a way of increasing take-up.

Keywords:

• Homelessness
• non-take-up of benefits
• income support (IS)
• rent support (RS)
• institutional compassion
• street-level bureaucracy

Acknowledgement

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Gabriela Heilbrun, from the Israeli National Insurance Institute's Research & Planning Administration, for assisting in generating and processing the administrative statistical data. I would also like to thank Housing Studies Editor, as well as the three referees of this manuscript for your invaluable comments. Finally, I would like to thank Ami Asher for translating & editing the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Insurance Institute of Israel under Grant 14345.

Notes on contributors

Shmulik Szeintuch

Dr. Shmulik Szeintuch is a social worker and faculty member in the School of Social Work, Sapir College, Israel. His PhD dissertation deals with homelessness policy in Israel in 1948–2010. His main areas of interest are social policy, homelessness and street work. Shmulik has published research papers in Hebrew and English journals and books, as well as policy documents for The Ministry of Social Welfare and Social Services. Finally, he is involved in policy practice, mainly in the area of homelessness.