“A question of human dignity”. Identifying solutions to improve WASH for people experiencing homelessness. A case study from Germany

Carmen Anthonj; Sarah Stanglow; Astrid Leinen; J. Flacke; Musa Manga; Dennis Schmiege; Nelly Grunwald

doi:10.1016/j.wasec.2024.100176

“A question of human dignity”. Identifying solutions to improve WASH for people experiencing homelessness. A case study from Germany

Carmen Anthonj, Sarah Stanglow, Astrid Leinen, J. Flacke, Musa Manga, Dennis Schmiege, Nelly Grunwald

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

58 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Urban poverty and homelessness keep growing while investments in health-promoting services and public infrastructure, including drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) have been decreasing. We used a mixed-method approach to collect data from 45 unhoused individuals in Germany identifying individual, infrastructure-specific, and location-based solutions to improve public WASH. Suggestions included adapting existing infrastructure, opening up existing, but inaccessible and constructing new inclusive infrastructure. Proactive, long-term sustainable solutions were preferred over reactive short-time options. Realizing safe WASH for all requires collaboration between homeless communities, governmental bodies, NGOs, businesses, and sanitation experts.

Original language	English
Article number	100176
Pages (from-to)	1-10
Journal	Water Security
Volume	22
Early online date	14 May 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasec.2024.100176
Publication status	Published - Aug 2024

Keywords

High-income countries
Germany
Homelessness
Human Rights
Inequality
Water
Sanitation
WASH
Urban
Mixed methods research
ITC-HYBRID
UT-Hybrid-D

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.wasec.2024.100176Licence: CC BY

1-s2.0-S2468312424000129-mainFinal published version, 8.88 MBLicence: CC BY

3 Oral presentation

Capturing and addressing challenges of health promotion among marginalized groups
Anthonj, C. (Speaker), Flacke, J. (Contributor), Stanglow, S. (Contributor), Leinen, A. (Contributor) & Grunwald, N. (Contributor)
Nov 2024
Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
Strengthening water and health security in Europe’s marginalized communities
Anthonj, C. (Speaker), Stanglow, S. (Contributor), Flacke, J. (Contributor), Dadrass Javan, F. (Contributor) & Ihnacik, L. (Contributor)
15 Jul 2024
Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Homelessness in Germany. Challenges, research methods, solutions
Anthonj, C. (Speaker), Flacke, J. (Speaker), Stanglow, S. (Speaker), Mingoti Poague, K. I. H. (Contributor), Fischer, M. (Contributor) & Grunwald, N. (Contributor)
Nov 2023
Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation

Water and health insecurity among urban homeless communities
Anthonj, C.
30/08/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
UT scientist works with homeless people as ‘co-researchers’
Anthonj, C.
19/03/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
Resilience Reflections #8: Reconsidering Human Resilience
Anthonj, C.
22/09/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Other

1 Citations
4 Article
2 Review article
1 Poster

Co-defining WASH (In)Security challenges among people experiencing homelessness. A qualitative study on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation from Bonn, Germany
Anthonj, C., Stanglow, S. & Grunwald, N., Feb 2024, In: Social science & medicine. 342, 116561, 116561.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Open Access
File
4 Citations (Scopus)

139 Downloads (Pure)
Invisible struggles: WASH insecurity and implications of extreme weather among urban homeless in high-income countries - A systematic scoping review
Anthonj, C., Mingoti Poague, K. I. H., Fleming, L. & Stanglow, S., Jan 2024, In: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 255, 114285.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Academic › peer-review

Open Access
File
7 Citations (Scopus)

133 Downloads (Pure)
Wasser-, Sanitaer- und Hygieneversorgung (WASH) wohnungsloser Menschen: eine Herausforderung fuer staedtische Gesundheitssysteme
Translated title of the contribution: Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) provision for homeless people: a challenge for urban health systemsAnthonj, C., Grunwald, N., Leinen, A. & Stanglow, S., Jul 2024, In: Wohnungslos. 2, p. 64-67 2/24.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Cite this

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title = "“A question of human dignity”. Identifying solutions to improve WASH for people experiencing homelessness. A case study from Germany",

abstract = "Urban poverty and homelessness keep growing while investments in health-promoting services and public infrastructure, including drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) have been decreasing. We used a mixed-method approach to collect data from 45 unhoused individuals in Germany identifying individual, infrastructure-specific, and location-based solutions to improve public WASH. Suggestions included adapting existing infrastructure, opening up existing, but inaccessible and constructing new inclusive infrastructure. Proactive, long-term sustainable solutions were preferred over reactive short-time options. Realizing safe WASH for all requires collaboration between homeless communities, governmental bodies, NGOs, businesses, and sanitation experts.",

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author = "Carmen Anthonj and Sarah Stanglow and Astrid Leinen and J. Flacke and Musa Manga and Dennis Schmiege and Nelly Grunwald",

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AU - Flacke, J.

AU - Manga, Musa

AU - Schmiege, Dennis

AU - Grunwald, Nelly

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AB - Urban poverty and homelessness keep growing while investments in health-promoting services and public infrastructure, including drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) have been decreasing. We used a mixed-method approach to collect data from 45 unhoused individuals in Germany identifying individual, infrastructure-specific, and location-based solutions to improve public WASH. Suggestions included adapting existing infrastructure, opening up existing, but inaccessible and constructing new inclusive infrastructure. Proactive, long-term sustainable solutions were preferred over reactive short-time options. Realizing safe WASH for all requires collaboration between homeless communities, governmental bodies, NGOs, businesses, and sanitation experts.

KW - High-income countries

KW - Germany

KW - Homelessness

KW - Human Rights

KW - Inequality

KW - Water

KW - Sanitation

KW - WASH

KW - Urban

KW - Mixed methods research

KW - ITC-HYBRID

KW - UT-Hybrid-D

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“A question of human dignity”. Identifying solutions to improve WASH for people experiencing homelessness. A case study from Germany

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Activities

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Research output

Cite this