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What makes a home. Evaluating a novel low support homeless accommodation model using co-design methods
Author/s
K Frazer, A Darley, C Duffy, O Doyle, T Kroll, N Bhardwaj
Abstract
Homelessness is a global challenge, with a prevalence of 4%; the problem is underestimated due to limitations in data collection. In Ireland, 1% of the population, including children, adults, and families, experience homelessness due to housing shortages and systemic complexities. Homeless accommodation is defined as emergency and temporary; the wording is used interchangeably. The ETHOS typology of homelessness comprises two dimensions – housing-focused and support-focused. Supports range from high to low levels. This study evaluated an emergency housing accommodation with low support to assess its feasibility and impact.
Data analyses from 16 participants highlight 1) Personal insights: silence, freedom in decision-making, feeling overwhelmed, valuing independence and understanding accommodation transitions; 2) Organisational insights: developing and promoting independent skills, managing resident preferences and personalities, balancing regulations within emergency accommodation, and staff training. Space was critical in fostering therapeutic well-being and a sense of home environment.
Effective organisational structures are required to facilitate coherent transfers and transitions. Using co-design methods enabled real-world partnerships and engagement.
Key messages
- Homelessness is a significant public health challenge, and a model of low support emergency accommodation has value in supporting transition through and out of services.
- Engaging with people with lived experience of homelessness is essential for developing supported accommodation models.