Background:

Maintaining flexible housing capacity remains a challenge for reception systems across Member States and observer countries. The inflow of applicants for international protection can change rapidly within a very short timeframe and is not always related to a clear triggering event. At the same time, housing capacity can also be subject to pressure as a result of limited outflow from accommodation centres. This latter pressure can be due to factors such as a lack of regular housing, backlogs in the processing of asylum applications, or limited returns, which may require Member States to adapt their housing capacity accordingly.

In order to support policymakers to better organise their respective reception systems, in a flexible manner, and whilst anticipating a further changing inflow in the future, the EMN decided to further investigate this topic. An ad hoc query was launched to collect information for a subsequent Inform on "Organising flexible housing in the context of international protection" produced on 20 January 2023.

Respondents:

In total 25 countries replied to the ad hoc query (including BE).

Findings:

A preliminary analysis of the results of the ad hoc query shows that:

• To analyse migratory inflows and outflows of housing and to estimate the demand for reception, EMN Member and Observer Countries used statistics and data sources, such as data on expected migration flows, housing trends and other internal and external factors.
   
• To manage rapid changes in demand for housing, EMN Member and Observer Countries have undertaken various measures to provide accommodation for applicants for international protection, including the provision of additional accommodation as buffer capacity or to be used immediately; budget flexibility; application of different modalities of reception conditions in emergency situations (e.g. housing in tents/containers/ gyms); and regional/local distribution of applicants for international protection throughout the territory.
   
• The organisation of outflow to housing and support services for beneficiaries of international protection varies significantly across EMN Member and Observer Countries and is typically linked to integration policies and services offered. Some EMN Member and Observer Countries allow beneficiaries of international protection to continue their stay in a reception centre until suitable accommodation is found. In some EMN Member and Observer Countries, housing is arranged for beneficiaries of international protection, for example by allocating them to a region or municipality. In others, a higher degree of independence is expected, although typically, support services are available.

Please read the compilation of answers for further details.