How do EMN Member States ensure systems for housing International Protection Applicants are ‘flexible’?

The inflow of International Protection Applicants (IPAs) (also known as asylum seekers) can vary significantly and be subject to rapid, substantial changes. Ireland has seen a fluctuating pattern of applications since the early 2000s, and in 2022, saw the highest number of applications on record. This fluctuation, in addition to other factors, can lead to pressure on Ireland’s ability to provide housing for applicants and, at times, Ireland has not been able to provide accommodation to some applicants arriving to the State, including currently. To meet these changing demands for accommodation, countries need to be able to both quickly upscale capacity to provide accommodation and to downscale in times when there is less demand.
This Migration Memo aims to present information that can support policy makers in understanding how other EMN Member Countries organise their reception systems in a flexible manner, whilst anticipating fluctuation in the future.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

 • Most countries use periodic forecasting for a given period, with various data, including processing times, applications, and housing market information. 

• One of the most common flexibility measures used is ensuring the availability of buffer accommodation centres, followed by budget flexibility. 

• The outflow of beneficiaries of international protection is an issue across EMN countries. While transitional programmes are used in some countries, external factors such as housing crises affect their effectiveness. 

• Close coordination among stakeholders is seen as important, both for housing applicants and for supporting beneficiaries to access accommodation.