Policy Paper: Unstable Housing Policy in Georgia

The Code of Local Self-Government outlines the rights and obligations of local self-governments through delegated and own authorities of municipalities. Among the own authorities, the code lists the obligation of local governing bodies to register and provide shelters to homeless people. The definition of a homeless person is provided by the Law on Social Assistance of Georgia, which states that a homeless person is one who does not have a permanent, defined living space and is registered in the local municipality as a homeless person. The Law on Social Assistance also defines the concept of roofless kids, who are individuals under the age of 18 living or working in the street and identified as roofless by an authorized social servant. The law introduces the main financial sources of social assistance, including the central budget, local budget, charity, and other funds. However, the law does not clearly define the responsibilities of institutions to address social housing issues. The Social Service Agency is obliged to establish a unified register of homeless people based on information provided by local municipalities, but procedures for registering the homeless are not standardized across the country. Local self-government entities are responsible for providing homeless people with shelters, registering homeless people living in shelters, and ensuring accessibility to statistics about homeless people to the Social Service Agency. Notably, some municipalities do not register citizens as homeless and/or cannot provide them with any kind of support. The law on Social Assistance also defines the role of specialized institutions, which provide social support to people who need special care overnight or during a pre-determined period. These institutions can be financed from the central or local budget, or other financial sources defined by Georgian legislation. The concept of adequate housing is defined by the Law on Internally Displaced Persons, which states that adequate housing is one that guarantees safety and access to public infrastructure, and provides internally displaced persons with satisfactory sanitary conditions. The law on Social Assistance does not clearly define the responsibilities of institutions to address social housing issues, leaving a gap in the provision of adequate housing for vulnerable populations. This lack of clarity has resulted in inconsistent implementation of policies and programs aimed at addressing unstable housing in Georgia. The European Typology on Homelessness and Housing Exclusion (ETHOS) provides a framework for understanding and addressing unstable housing. According to ETHOS, unstable housing refers to a situation where individuals or families lack a stable and secure living environment, often due to poverty, lack of affordable housing, or other social and economic factors. Measuring homelessness is a complex task, as it requires a comprehensive understanding of the social, economic, and demographic factors that contribute to unstable housing. The ETHOS framework provides a useful tool for understanding the determinants of unstable housing, including poverty, lack of affordable housing, and social exclusion. The determinants of unstable housing are complex and multifaceted, involving a range of social, economic, and demographic factors. Poverty, lack of affordable housing, and social exclusion are key drivers of unstable housing, and addressing these factors is critical to reducing the incidence of unstable housing in Georgia. The government has a critical role to play in addressing unstable housing, including providing affordable housing options, supporting social services and programs that address poverty and social exclusion, and promoting policies and programs that reduce the risk of unstable housing. A brief overview of the existing literature on unstable housing in Georgia reveals a complex and multifaceted issue, with a range of social, economic, and demographic factors contributing to unstable housing. Data on unstable housing in Georgia is limited, but available research suggests that the incidence of unstable housing is high, particularly among vulnerable populations such as internally displaced persons, low-income households, and individuals with disabilities. General market trends suggest that the demand for affordable housing is increasing, while the supply of affordable housing is decreasing, exacerbating the problem of unstable housing. Overview of unstable housing incidence in Georgia reveals a complex and multifaceted issue, with a range of social, economic, and demographic factors contributing to unstable housing. Disaggregated analysis of unstable housing incidence reveals that certain populations are disproportionately affected, including internally displaced persons, low-income households, and individuals with disabilities. The data suggests that unstable housing is a significant issue in Georgia, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities.