About the research and blog
This blog is being written in conjunction with a research project, entitled ‘Losing and Finding a Home: A Life Course Approach’ which is being undertaken by researchers at the Universities of Salford and Lincoln. It is being used to share developments from the research with the service providers and homeless people in Stoke-on-Trent where the research is taking place, as well as any other interested party or individual. To learn more about who is involved in the research click here and to know more about what we are doing and how click here. If you are unfamiliar with blogs click on this page to discover a bit more about how to use it.
The research is funded jointly by the Economic and Social Research Council, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Department of Health. It is one of four projects that they have commissioned into ‘Multiple Exclusion Homelessness’. To find out a bit more about the programme and the other projects please click here.
1.
Peter Watson | April 30, 2010 at 9:51 am
Hi, I have been browsing your blog with great interest. Here at Homeless Link we are gathering examples of social media being used around homelessness. Hope you’re getting interest from other people too – would you be happy for us to promote your site?
Peter 020 7840 9967
2.
salfordgareth | April 30, 2010 at 10:28 am
Absolutely, thanks for taking an interest. Are you gathering this information to be put into one place which we can also create a link too?
3.
Peter Watson | April 30, 2010 at 11:49 am
We’ve only just started looking into gathering this info but if we come across a sufficient body of things, we’ll let people know so they can add links.
4.
john bloggs | June 13, 2010 at 11:46 pm
hi..
We at uk homeless team,which consists of a group of people
which have all experianced homelessness,streets and hidden,Hostels being hidden homeless,at least if you go out to a soup run(handout)..
you have a roof over your head a night…..wish you well..
Interview Questions “tip” consult with homeless 1st,are we asking questions the right way,the right language,is this how you would ask the question,consult with people..not about people,bring on board..empower..are they not the majour stakeholder?
regards uk homeless team
5.
john bloggs | June 14, 2010 at 12:28 am
? suggest link in to Multiple exclusion homelessness research project
uk homeless team
6.
salfordgareth | June 14, 2010 at 8:32 am
Thanks for the tip and for coming to the blog.
We are taking a ‘life story’ approach to our interviews which means that we are keen for the interviewees to open up and talk about their experiences in any way they choose and focusing on any aspects of their life that they believe to be the most important. As the interviewer, my role is to help them to construct their story and to have a minimal part in directing it. This way, it is envisaged, gives the interviewee a more powerful position in the research as they are deciding what to ask themselves, as well as answering those questions as part of the interview process itself. Its interesting how this is interpreted – one person may focus on an aspect of their life that another person would seemingly barely consider important.
I’d be glad to hear any more suggestions, tips or feedback you may wish to offer. Also, I have added the link you suggested.
Thanks,
Gareth
7.
john bloggs | June 14, 2010 at 9:46 pm
What is homelessness? can also be a state of mind,a exceptance,some people with multiple problems,will be with homeless services for a long time,partly due to a background of
homelessness,and mental health,,illitercy,numeracy,
added,but have phenomal memory to compensate,and can hide
some of the problems,another example is ex forces where” pride”
in the ability to survive in the harshest of circumstances,can be
also be a stumbling block,who wants to live in a Hostel full of
people with problems,which has been well documented over the last few years,..so daycentres,church based daycentres,drop ins
etc…their social sphere..
regards to you gareth..
uk homeless team
8.
salfordgareth | June 15, 2010 at 7:22 am
Interesting that you mention ex forces. I have interviewed a small number of these so far. As they were in hostel accommodation though they would not necessarily meet the description of ex forces people that you are describing. I got the impression that their homelessness was due more to their lack of developed independent living skills as a result of joining the army at such a young age.
I’m also interested in what you said about homelessness being a state of mind. Again, as the people I have met so far have tended to be in young adulthood this acceptance of homelessness that you mention is probably not as visible. But as I meet more older people this may become apparent in the interviews. I think an advantage of taking a life course approach to our research may help us to disentangle some of the issues that may be more important at different parts of the life span.
9.
Nicki Glassbrook | May 25, 2012 at 11:22 am
I have just stumbled upon your blog and read with interest your comments about Housing first initiatives and Personalisation of services for rough sleepers. I have set up both things; a housing first style model has been running in Exeter for nearly 10 years now, it has not been plain sailing but… I also coordinated a pilot in Exeter and North Devon which allocated individual budgets to entrenched rough sleepers which was evaluated. I am happy to share all my findings with you.
10.
nickiglassbrook | May 25, 2012 at 11:28 am
I have just found your blog and interested that in an article posted through QNI that you mentioned Housing First Initiatives and Personalisation. I have been involved with implementing both. In Exeter there has been a housing first model operating for nearly 10 years which I helped to establish. It has not always been plain sailing but a lot of learning (less about the clients, more about the agencies involved). We also have a scheme run with the city council that places rough sleepers stright in to the temporary accommodation . I also coordinated an individual budgets pilot in Exeter and North Devon which has been evaluated. I am happy to share my learning with you