Centre for Homelessness Impact

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

We've reached a significant milestone today as we begin the delivery of individual placement and support (IPS), one of our groundbreaking Test & Learn programmes. IPS is an approach that has already changed lives in other sectors, and we're aiming to understand its effectiveness for people experiencing homelessness.  Working alongside our brilliant partners - IPS Grow,  Beam, South Yorkshire Housing Association (SYHA) and Enable Shropshire - we’ll start to recruit people into the project.     Programme Lead, Ella Whelan, shares more about IPS and what this milestone moment could mean for people experiencing homelessness. https://lnkd.in/eCCFC_Bs

How could primary care services prevent homelessness? Policymakers, practitioners and people with lived experiences of homelessness alike often pose the challenge that we need to drive prevention upstream. Our Director of Evidence and Data, Guillermo Rodriguez Guzman, reflects on this challenge, taking inspiration from what works in other countries. https://lnkd.in/eZzaehPr

We're looking for two brilliant people to join CHI as Evidence & Data Leads. Candidates will have a knack for translating their findings into simple, yet meaningful messages for policy, service design, innovation and improvements on the data infrastructure. Full and part-time considered, alongside flexible, remote or hybrid working. The salary is £35,000 to £45,000 (pro rata if part-time) depending on experience and location. Visit this link for the full JD and details on how to apply https://lnkd.in/e8gb4kSA

The Academy of St Martin in the Fields is a world-renowned orchestra based in London which since 1999 has delivered music-making projects with people experiencing homelessness, aiming to use the benefits of creativity to support individuals on their journey. Callum Given, Head of Social Purpose, writes about how they're composing a creative path out of homelessness, and how they're building their understanding of the impact of this work. Read Callum's blog to find out more - https://lnkd.in/ef6Ra6Ef Illustration by Ruby Wright

What a fantastic day at People's History Museum yesterday for our 2024 Impact Forum! Bringing so many people together to exchange knowledge, ideas, experiences and strategies is one part of accelerating the efforts to end homelessness across communities in the UK. Thank you to everyone who attended in person, or online, and of course to all those who were part of the programme. More detailed updates will follow in due course. Together, we can build a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring—one step at a time.

Homelessness and unemployment are deeply interconnected. Breaking this cycle requires more than just offering jobs – it requires an approach that understands the unique challenges people experiencing homelessness face. The IPS programme could have a profoundly positive impact on people experiencing homelessness and this evaluation aims to improve our understanding of that impact.

A message from our CEO Lígia Teixeira for #WorldHomelessDay2024.