Losing and finding a home: a life course approach

This research focuses on the relationship between social exclusion and homelessness, with a particular emphasis on the biographies of those with first hand experience. A growing body of research looking at the causes of homelessness suggests that housing factors are less important in understanding the persistent nature of homelessness than factors such as family history, poverty and the breakdown of social relationships. This research aims to look at how these factors impact on people's lives, focusing on how they may or may not result in homelessness.
The research will look at a case study of one particular area: Stoke-on-Trent.
The research has three different methods of data collection:

A scoping study of agencies in Stoke-on-Trent.
Semi-structured interviews with homelessness agencies across Stoke-on-Trent.
Life story/biographical interviews with three broad groups of people:

Those who have experienced multiple episodes of homelessness
Those presenting as homeless for the first time
Those who have experience of multiple exclusion, but not homelessness
The research involves working closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, North Staffs YMCA, Brighter Futures and other organisations in Stoke-on-Trent, as well as homeless people within the city.