Housing exclusion of the Roma: Living on the edge

Abstract

In this chapter, we aim to explore the mechanisms of direct or indirect housing exclusion policies, and link them to the general exclusion of Roma (Kemeny 2001). We claim that the post-transition period signifi cantly accelerated the downward mobility of many Roma households, who were among the fi rst victims of the social and economic changes in the whole region. We conclude that housing exclusion is a result of broader social exclusion processes, and that current social housing policies-even if integrated with other measures-are often hampered, on the one hand, by institutional disinterest and, on the other hand, by the lack of political will and fi nancial support by national governments. Thus, current social housing policies further exacerbate exclusion. Even when implemented, the measures can barely handle the complex marginalized social, economic, and cultural situation of the Roma in the region.