Towards an end to homelessness Project
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How should we effectively address the problem of increasing homelessness in the UK?
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My work concerns developing interventions to prevent vulnerable single adults becoming homeless by creating a new system and exploring possibilities of efficiently creating small communities/micro villages on small sites. Through empirical research, I identified an immediate solution for a specific group of people – those classified as ‘threatened homeless’ according to Local Authority definitions - intercepting them before they fall into the downward spiral of hopelessness and dependency that comes with being homeless, by providing medium term accommodation and professional support back into employment and independence. Amongst this group I wish to focus on single adults who are not a priority to Local Authorities, and are therefore not effectively supported, who when faced with homelessness will end up sleeping rough. Supporting threatened single adult homeless people is a pragmatic, practical solution for preventing rough sleeping, protecting the vulnerable and saving on public expenditure. I propose that if we can help those categorised as ‘threatened homeless’ immediately, they do not need to become homeless. Providing a safe medium-term housing option at the point of homelessness is the best way to support the ‘housing vulnerable’.
I propose cluster housing using small sized, empty, publicly-owned sites in urban and hyper-urban areas, to provide a private space, maintain independence and offer an opportunity to build community. Psychologically they will remain part of the community, valued and supported until they can start earning and become independent. My proposal is good for Government policy and for London with consideration for limited space, budget and social cohesion. My project is a way to kickstart social housing programmes and improve social identity for the housing vulnerable.
My methodology follows a double diamond process, including understanding the problem, defining the problem, developing possible solutions and choosing and delivering the solution. Through 4 phases of process I recognised the main cause of homelessness and identified those most likely to become rough sleepers, how to prevent it and how to deliver a solution with a new approach. In order to explore and understand the reasons for the ongoing problem of homelessness in the UK, my research consists of evidence-based and empirical research. For evidence research I reviewed Government reports and strategies and academic databases on homelessness including the Rough Sleeping Strategy and Housing First. For empirical research, I interviewed a housing officer, a Human Rights solicitor and a Housing solicitor, various homeless people and architects. Their input helped me identify the focus of my proposal – the users, stakeholders and a realistic, attainable and profitable outcome.
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Why with the resource we have in this country is there even a problem why is it growing?
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In “Radical Help” by Hilary Cottam, she writes, “We really need to listen to people, what they want and what they need, if we want to improve our welfare system.” I am inspired by her relational approach which puts the individual at the heart of the solution. Her welfare experiments proved successful when service providers invested time to listen to the individuals in need instead of trying to fit them into established, impersonal bureaucratic processes. In Britain, the number of homeless has been increasing rapidly for the last decade and is consistently high on the policy agenda for all major political parties. There are multiple Government-led initiatives such as Housing First and the Rough Sleeping Strategy, employing designers and architects to create shelter and accommodation solutions such as Holmes Road Studios, Camden, Mount Pleasant by Peter Barber, prefabricated housing for homeless people in South London by Richard Rogers, and design platforms like “ProxyAddress” by Hildrey Studio, which helps people to access and apply to homeless application form smoothly for homeless people. However, despite vast sums spent and brilliant architecture, the numbers of homeless people are increasing because all policies and solutions are targeted at those already homeless. There is a crucial window of opportunity being missed to intervene before people actually become homeless, which is linked to the way we view those who for whatever reason have become unable to support themselves. It is a problem at the heart of our society that we must address for the health and success of our society.
I realised that there needs to be a fundamental shift in the attitude to the problem of homelessness. We don’t need to wait until they become homelessness. This can be tackled from many angles, but I have chosen to start with the most basic, through preventing humiliation and despair by providing accommodation for a group of potentially homeless people. A potential homelessness avalanche is impending - the increasingly unstable single household is coming to society in the very near future in the UK. If we don’t prepare practically by adjusting and reinventing prevention and support systems, we will face a social and economic disaster. The issue of homelessness is not about economics. It is about valuing people. I want to explore a new approach by focusing on people. People, not the “problem”.