Centre for Homelessness Impact

Our chief executive Lígia Teixeira writes that, despite many challenges, there are grounds for hope in the findings of our latest poll with Ipsos UK analysing public perceptions of homelessness. Most people understand that homelessness is a structural issue, rather than blaming individuals, and a majority say that investing money to prevent homelessness is an effective approach. #homelessness #research #evidence #framing https://lnkd.in/eSixtv8U

Four out of five people across the UK believe homelessness is a serious problem and there is a strong sense that as a society we pay too little attention to it, our latest poll with Ipsos UK has found. 83% of adults across the UK agree that homelessness is a serious problem and 70% agree that as a society, we do not pay enough attention to homelessness. But people understand that homelessness is a structural issue rather than the fault of individuals and more than half (56%) agree that investing resources to prevent homelessness is a, effective approach. Read more about our findings. #homelessness #opinion #polling #prevention https://lnkd.in/eSwPj6Qt

We know that Christmas can be a tough time for people who’ve experienced homelessness. A season for exchanging gifts and spending time with family can be especially isolating for people facing adversity and in acute need. We know, too, that homelessness in all its forms is rising rapidly across the UK. Record numbers of people, including families with children, are spending Christmas living in temporary accommodation, with their lives on hold. At the Centre for Homelessness Impact, we are committed to using data and evidence to tackle these challenges head-on. Through tools like our Evidence and Data Tools and Test and Learn programme, we equip policymakers and practitioners with the resources they need to make informed decisions and deliver meaningful change. Behind every data point are individuals and families who deserve not just safety and a home, but the dignity and opportunity to thrive. So we must redouble our efforts to identify what works to end homelessness for good, by generating more and better evidence, responding to insights from robust data and by working collectively in areas where homelessness is highest to enhance impact.  We send thanks to our partners, our supporters and everyone committed to building the evidence base of what works and putting this to good use. And we send our solidarity to people affected by homelessness. Together we can end homelessness, for good.

How can sport shift the narrative about homelessness towards prevention? Jo Metcalfe, who recently joined CHI as an Associate, writes about the transformative power of sport for social change, and how organisations outside the homelessness sector can bring new approaches and additional capacity to efforts to prevent homelessness. https://lnkd.in/eY2rS8pJ #sport #homelessness

Following the release of our recent report, CHI's CEO Lígia Teixeira writes about the relationship between literacy, numeracy and homelessness. A link to the full report is in the comments. https://lnkd.in/ee_mNVdT

There is no shortage of policy intervention examples that are designed to address low literacy and numeracy skills, but how many interventions work as successfully for people experiencing homelessness? Low literacy and numeracy skills, combined with the effects of homelessness, create a classic example of a complex policy problem. Cause and effect are entangled together, with a vicious cycle of lower educational attainment feeding into lower income and economic precariousness, which increases risk of homelessness and the potential for intergenerational effects as the cycle repeats. This new report by Julia Ellingwood, Dimitris Vallis and Michael Sanders at The Policy Institute at King's College London asks what we know about literacy, numeracy and homelessness. Explore the findings in brief below and see the full report including recommendations here - https://lnkd.in/eWM-fp-8 #literacy #numeracy #homelessness

A reminder that we're on the lookout for a new Implementation Lead. You will act as a leader within the Implementation Team on work relating to policy analysis and public affairs, including specialising in deepening and enhancing our impact in the UK and particularly in Scotland. See the full JD and apply here - https://lnkd.in/eNM-ugvF

Despite record numbers of people living in temporary accommodation, there are significant gaps in available data on its costs. Gaps in data mean that the true scale of spending on temporary accommodation is likely to be under-reported. Head of Value for Money at CHI, Matthew Wilkins, writes about how the better collection of data can improve the effectiveness of spending on temporary accommodation. Read more in this blog which follows the release of our new analysis of the data available. https://lnkd.in/e6Q9TV9f

In the past year, the cost of temporary accommodation has soared with more of the costs transferred from central government to councils, which is increasingly threatening the financial viability of many. Our new analysis of the data available has shown the cost of temporary accommodation to local authorities rose by more than 50% last year as record numbers of families found themselves at risk of homelessness. CHI's Head of Value for Money, Matthew Wilkins, talks through the findings and why the collection of good data is so important to develop homelessness policy that is truly based on evidence. You can read the the findings and recommendations from the report here - https://lnkd.in/eeThYbUB

At our next Research Network meeting we'll explore the evidence to end the criminalisation of homelessness. We'll be joined by Prof Olivier De Schutter, Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights for the United Nations who will discuss his recent publication on breaking the link between homelessness, poverty and criminalisation, and Dr Melissa Jogie, Associate Professor, School of Education, University of Roehampton and Policy Fellow at the Centre for Homelessness Impact who will discuss her research into the legislation and criminalisation of begging in the UK. Register via Zoom to join us online on Friday 22 November, 3-4.30pm - https://lnkd.in/e2Z4fvcZ