From Collective Centres to Private Accommodation: Housing Trajectories of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Switzerland

Anne-Laure Bertrand , Université de Neuchâtel / Neuchâtel University
Julie Lacroix , University of St Andrews

The housing situation of refugees and asylum seekers has brought political attention in the last few years, given the shortage of decent accommodation and increased use of underground bunkers as a temporary solution. A large body of empirical evidence show that long stay in deprived housing have negative impacts on their integration and well-being. Yet, refugees and asylum seekers encounter many obstacles in moving from collective centres to the housing market. Although qualitative research abounds on the subject, quantitative studies are scarce – let alone longitudinal ones. This study addresses this gap by offering a comprehensive mapping of asylum seekers and refugees’ housing trajectories. Based on Swiss population registers, this paper analyses the housing conditions of 44’816 asylum seekers and refugees upon arrival to Switzerland and during the first eight years in the country. Event history models are used to analyse the transitions from collective to private rental housing, and from complex- to single-family housing. Preliminary results show fairly rapid access to private housing, with significant variations according to individual characteristics.

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 Presented in Session 23. Legal status and life course of immigrants