Local Connection Criteria and Single Homeless People's Geographical Mobility: Evidence from Brighton and Hove

Abstract

In December 2001 Brighton and Hove City Council introduced a set of Local Connection Criteria aimed at stemming the flow of homeless people apparently making their way to the city in search of services. Under the new criteria, only those previously resident in Brighton and Hove can make use of the city's night shelters and hostels. Similar such criteria have recently been introduced elsewhere and represent an important change in local responses to the problems of single homelessness. The paper examines in detail the movements of 41 recently and long-term homeless men interviewed at a night shelter and hostel in Brighton and Hove prior to the introduction of the local connection rule. Finding the majority to have recently moved to the city having become homeless elsewhere, it is suggested that the introduction of such criteria is liable to have a considerable impact on the lives of some single homeless people. Examining the reasons why these men had moved, however, it is suggested that the future movement of single homeless people to the city, or other 'homeless places', is unlikely to be significantly affected by such policies.