Homelessness in Oxford
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Homeless in Oxford: Assessing homelessness pathways, and the role of support services in a local context
IRAS ID
260147
Contact name
Elisabeth Garratt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Clinical Trials and Research Governance
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
Rough sleeping is a visible and intensifying indicator of extreme social exclusion. Homeless people face risks including mental and physical health problems, and violence, while incurring annual costs to the public purse in the UK exceeding £1 billion. Against a backdrop of increasing homelessness are widespread concerns about the limited understanding of the underlying drivers, and the effectiveness of alleviation measures. Locally, Oxford’s homelessness is both severe and long-standing: its rough sleeping rate is even higher than that in London.
Our research objectives are to: (1) Establish people’s trajectories through and exits from different homeless experiences; (2) Ascertain the risk factors for different trajectories between these experiences, the groups most in need, and potential remedies; (3) Identify service users’ assessments of the effectiveness of statutory and non-statutory homelessness support services.
These questions will be explored through a ‘mobility mapping’ task in which participants ‘map’ their housing and homelessness journey using drawings and text. Prompts will be used by the researchers to elicit additional detail, as necessary. Participants who prefer not to complete this task will be given the option of undertaking a single semi-structured, qualitative interview. Participants will be recruited from support services including Aspire, Crisis, Emmaus, The Gatehouse, Oxford Homeless Pathways and Luther Street Medical Practice. We are also seeking involvement from additional organisations.
Potential benefits are (1) An improved evidence base for policies to reduce homelessness, (2) A better understanding of ‘what works’ to inform the activities of statutory and non-statutory support services, (3) Enhanced appreciation of the challenges experienced by homeless people, and potential for greater public concern.
The project is funded by the John Fell Fund and Lucy Group Ltd.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0219
Date of REC Opinion
15 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion