Protected shelters in transition: marketization dynamics and policy shifts

Protected shelters are vital for women exposed to violence and is provided by non-profit or for-profit actors. In 2024, the government introduced regulation because of “unscrupulous actors,” which has led women’s shelters to close their protected shelters. This project analyses this development.

By providing safety, support, and a foundation for rebuilding their lives, protected shelters are essential for women experiencing violence. The social services are responsible for assessing the needs of those affected and arrange placement in such shelters.

Concerns about the effects of marketization on protected shelters prompted the government to introduce a specific regulatory framework in 2024. In turn, this has led many women’s shelters to close their protected shelters. This development reflects a broader trend in the marketization of welfare services. After a long period of deregulation and repeated reports of negative outcomes, increasingly complex and costly control mechanisms have been implemented for welfare service providers.

Drawing on the perspectives of social workers, survivors of violence, and protected shelters staff, this project analyses the deregulation and re-regulation of sheltered housing and its consequences for the placement process, the organization of residential work, and the support provided.