Tiggande EU-migranter i Kalmar
En lokal socialpolitik växer fram
Social policyEU-migrantsRoma peopleBeggingClaims makingSocialpolitikEU-migranterRomerTiggeriAnspråksformulering
The aim of this study was to examine how social policy is created in a local context on the basis of the situation regarding the begging EU migrants in Kalmar, Sweden. The last few years the number of begging EU migrants has increased in Sweden. Most of them are Roma with a history of exclusion and discrimination. To reach our goal we interviewed three managers from the social Services representing the local authorities. We also did four interviews with people from three non-profit organizations in Kalmar. In the light of our selected theories and interviews it is clear that it is hard to define the best way to help these people. Welfare benefits from the municipality go to Swedish citizens, so even if the EU migrants have the right to stay in Sweden for three months they can´t get as much help as Swedish citizens. Therefore non-profit organizations have a big role to play. In our study Stadsmissionen, which is a big non-profit organization, was the most important claims maker. They identified the needs of the EU migrants and took the process forward. The EU migrants were invited to a local Pentecostal church, Lorensbergskyrkan, on Thursday evenings where they could shower, eat, sleep and have fellowship. This led to the EU migrants eventually getting access to Kalmar Dämme, Salve, where Stadsmissionen contributed with caravans and the municipality with barracks with kitchens, toilets and showers. This study shows that non-profit organizations like Stadsmissionen need to notice the problem and define it for other operators to join. Non-profit organizations in Kalmar are important in the process of creating social policy in this local context.