CALL FOR EVIDENCE:
EFFECTIVE APPROACHES TO HELPING PEOPLE MOVE ON FROM HOMELESSNESS
Background
DCLG have commissioned Homeless Link to conduct research into effective approaches that help people to move on from homelessness services and access new accommodation. The research will identify good practice, look at what works in helping people to move on and present case studies that highlight effective working.
Helping people to move on from homelessness is essential to enable people to continue with progress they have made in their lives and avoid people getting ‘stuck’ in the system. It is also important for preventing ‘silting up’ of homeless services, which stop newly homeless people from accessing the vital support they need.
The Call for Evidence
As part of this research we are issuing a Call for Evidence of existing and emerging approaches to move-on that help people to secure new accommodation. Support may help people to access independent accommodation, return to the family home or move to accommodation that meets their current support needs. It may take a number of forms, including rent deposit schemes, shared accommodation options or relationships with private sector landlords. We are interested in hearing about any approach that has helped people experiencing homelessness to move on in a positive manner.
How to respond
Please share any examples of work being undertaken currently or previously,using the template over the page.These will be used to identify and highlight effective practice that could be replicated in other areas.
If you have a number of move-on approaches, please complete a separate template for each activity. If the information in any of the sections is not available, please leave them blank.
Please return any examples by 30th September 2016.
If you have any questions about the research, please contact Rachel Hurcombe – / 020 7840 4418.
MOVING ON FROM HOMELESSNESS CALL FOR EVIDENCE TEMPLATEName of your project/service.
Name/type of move-on approach.
Date approach started (and ended if applicable).
Location (i.e. local authority area).
Please provide a summary of your move-on approach, describing what it entails.
If the approach was designed to address specific challenges associated with move-on, then please describe the challenges(e.g. lack of accommodation options for young people).
Target client group(s)(e.g. young people, single homeless people, families – please include all who can use the service if more than one target group).
Partner organisations and key stakeholders – who else is involved in delivering the approach?
How is it funded?
How much does it cost to deliver?
Outcomes: do you monitor short or long term outcomes for the approach andif so, how are they measured?
Has it ever been evaluated? Please provide more information about evidence of the approach’s effectiveness in helping people move on from homelessness and the methodology used to show this. If you have data on cost-effectiveness please include this here. Or please provide the evaluation report if this is available. /
What impact has the approach had on your service as a whole? (i.e. shorter stays, improved relationships with stakeholders).
What would you say has been key to the approach’s success and outcomes? Were there any barriers to implementation?
Are there any features of the approach that you think would be difficult to replicate in other areas? If so, why?
Would you be willing for this case study to be included in our report for DCLG?
Is there anything else about the approach you think would be useful to share with us?
Please provide contact details for further information. / NAME:
EMAIL:
TELEPHONE:
Thank you for completing the template.
FAQs
What do you mean by homelessness?
For the purpose of this research, we are interested in all forms of homelessness, including statutory homelessness and single homelessness. It might also include hidden homelessness, those living in overcrowded or unsuitable accommodation, or those in particularly vulnerable housing situations.
Our approach has not been evaluated – can we still include it?
Yes, we are interested in emerging practice, as well as approachesthat might have been formally evaluated.
Does it matter who commissions or delivers the approach?
We are interested in any approaches delivered byhomelessness services, which have been developed to help people move on in a positive manner.
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