From home to home: homelessness during austere times

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to illustrate realities of homeless people's lives during a time of significant change in UK public sector funding and welfare policy.Design/methodology/approachA participatory research approach was used including working with two co‐researchers; two people who have direct experience of homelessness. A sustainable livelihoods approach was adapted to provide a framework for analysis. The research was undertaken during May to October 2011.FindingsThe paper interrogates five areas of assets held by people themselves that support sustainable livelihoods, an existing approach used in other research. Life journey narratives show that a connected range of services, operating through an empowerment model, promote human dignity.Research limitations/implicationsFindings resonate with issues identified in larger studies; however, as the funding and policy context is rapidly changing it is recommended that additional local qualitative studies could be conducted during the next three years to illustrate impacts in people's lives.Practical implicationsThe paper suggests front‐line services must include resettlement as well as crisis and stabilising services in order to ensure homeless people can successfully move from home to home.Social implicationsThe research identified negative attitudes towards homeless people. By illustrating homeless people's achievements the study provides evidence of the impact of, and the value of continuing to fund, homeless services.Originality/valueThe paper suggests that people who have experienced homelessness achieve a successful life with support by drawing on their considerable life experience and personal talents. This message is important for practitioners, commissioners and policy makers working through a period of change for homeless services.