The family moves in and out of hostels - costs SEK 1000 per day

In October 2019 Stefan and his two children are forced to leave the apartment rented by the social services for several years.

Stefan says that it was the children's mother who got the contract for medical reasons. When she died in the illness, Stefan was told that he and the children would need to move out.

- Then I was in the middle of a grief, I was really cracked, says Stefan.

The family has previously been postponed to stay in the apartment. It turned out to be difficult for Stefan to find his own contract because he has a short time in the housing queue and debts at Kronofogden. But this time they have to move.

Stefan's daughter Emma is in high school.

- I'm ready, we're moving. But where? That's what I'm a little worried about, she says.

The decision that Social Services gives Stefan gives several reasons why they must not stay. Stefan has not done enough to get a home and has not paid all the rent. But there is also a formulation that is of great importance for Stefan's situation - and for many others who lack housing.

- I don't belong to the target group, says Stefan.

Stefan and the children belong to a growing group called "structurally homeless". They differ from the “socially homeless” group in that they do not have abuse or social problems - but cannot find a home on their own. The family is subject to a new routine introduced by the City of Gothenburg in 2019.

It makes it clear that structurally homeless people are not entitled to housing through social services. Only socially homeless people have the right. Eva Saletti, head of sector in the City of Gothenburg, says that the social service fulfills its mission.

- We take the responsibility that the legislation has intended us to do. We have an utmost responsibility to prevent people from living on the street if they are in urgent need. And of course, the people who have social problems should support us.

After leaving the apartment, the family has moved in and out of hostels for some time.

When they rented the social service, Stefan was responsible for paying the rent, but now he has to seek emergency assistance from the social service as it costs around SEK 1000 a day to stay at the hostel.

The main rule of the new routine is that structurally homeless people receive money for one week at a time to pay for an emergency solution.

- If it continues like this, I will soon belong to the group with mental illness. It's so stressful not knowing what to do tomorrow, says Stefan.

Stefan's social service writes in an e-mail that they do not want to comment on the individual case, but that a work plan is generally drawn up with the individual - and that the activities follow the case law and the joint guidelines of the City of Gothenburg, which support people for their own housing.