Gatekeepers of the Undesired? A knowledge and research overview about the link between municipal housing policy and the settlement of vulnerable groups

Swedish housing policy comprises a crucial contradiction.

While it is usually perceived as universal, the allocation of rental housing is decided by time in housing queues and labour market integration rather than need and, thereby, generally disregards social aspects.

To that end, the public responsibility and provision of housing for socially vulnerable groups, such as newly arrived refugees or individuals dependent on welfare benefits, represent an anomaly, as they may lack time in queues and possess a less developed position in the labour market.

However, recent knowledge indicates that, while some municipalities do offer vulnerable groups permanent housing contracts, others uphold more restrictive policies through different forms of temporary solutions.

In this project, we contribute with a knowledge and a research overview in the realm of how housing policy is exploited at the local level to restrict the settlement of vulnerable groups in general and migrants with refugee backgrounds in particular.

This will be achieved in three steps, beginning with an orientation of prior knowledge and followed by a literature search. Lastly, the literature will be analysed and presented in a report, a policy brief and a scholarly review article.

The overview relates directly to a societal transformation that will reduce inequalities and promote sustainable cities and communities and peaceful and inclusive societies, which are central goals of the 2030 Agenda.