Samenvatting

In the past decade, the Netherlands has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of homeless individuals, with figures doubling according to recent statistics (CBS, 2021). This alarming trend underscores the growing urgency to support this vulnerable population. While the main approach to homelessness is ‘housing first’—prioritizing housing provision to homeless people—there is a growing recognition that this strategy alone is insufficient. In addition to the major housing shortage, many individuals who have been housed experience profound loneliness and a lack of self-reliance in their daily lives. That is why Dutch shelter organizations are now adopting an innovative network support approach in their care for people who experience homelessness. This approach seeks to empower clients by engaging and enhancing their social networks. This paper presents findings from a two-year qualitative research project, ‘Social Network First?’, which explores the implementation of network support for homeless people in the Dutch cities of Amsterdam and Haarlem. To gain a comprehensive understanding of this approach and its impact on the empowerment of homeless people, we conducted 53 semi-structured interviews with homeless individuals, their relatives and friends, social workers, and other relevant professionals. Additionally, we participated in case discussion sessions and organized development and validation sessions. Our research demonstrates the significant role of network support in enhancing the well-being of homeless individuals. The findings highlight numerous instances of increased social connectedness, practical and emotional support, and improved self-esteem because of greater involvement within the social network. Network support workers focus on strengthening the social ties and inclusion of people who experience homelessness, alongside fostering their self-reliance. This method represents a valuable complement to traditional social shelter practices, especially because homeless individuals often have fragile social networks and, like everyone, require social connections. Moreover, it is likely that network support contributes to reducing repeat homelessness. The network support approach, however, faces challenges within the current political landscape. As our research shows, implementing network support requires meeting conditions like training of social workers, time to spend with clients, redesigning work and IT systems, and, overall, a culture change. Meanwhile, the Netherlands is transitioning from a welfare state to a participation society, where citizens are increasingly expected to resolve their issues with less available professional assistance. Additionally, the recent shift towards a radical right-wing government, with its emphasis on repression over prevention, further threatens support for vulnerable populations. As Waqcuant (2006) has shown in his seminal work, a crumbling social state is accompanied by the rise of a penal state that produces segregation and exclusion. Hence, the current policy environment may pose risks to social work practices designed to empower homeless individuals.