Rebuilding Lives
Supporting formerly homeless people to achieve independent living
The Rebuilding Lives study examined the experiences and longer-term outcomes for single homeless people who have been resettled. For the first time in the UK, information was collected about formerly homeless people five years after they were resettled. It was a follow-on of the FOR-HOME study (conducted at the University of Sheffield) which interviewed 400 homeless people in London, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire at the time they were resettled and after six and 18 months.
The objectives of Rebuilding Lives were:
- To collect evidence of the circumstances of formerly homeless people five years after being rehoused, their ability to sustain tenancies and achieve independent living, and the proportion who still require support.
- To examine the characteristics of those who continue to receive or need longer-term support, how their support needs have changed over time, and whether and how their needs are currently met.
- To identify the roles of different practitioners (social care, health and housing agencies) in providing longer-term support to formerly homeless people, ways of working that have proved effective, and the challenges and difficulties of delivering this support.
- To contribute to: (a) policy, public health, and commissioning debates about the provision of longer-term support for formerly homeless people in order to prevent repeat homelessness; and (b) practice debates about the support that is required to enable formerly homeless people cope with managing a tenancy, achieve independence, and rebuild their lives.
Timescale
2013 – 2015
Research team
Maureen Crane, Louise Joly and Jill Manthorpe (SCWRU)
Sarah Coward, John Miles and Ruby Fernandez-Fu assisted with tracking, interviewing and data entry
Collaborators: Broadway, Centrepoint, St Mungo’s and Thames Reach in London; Framework in Nottinghamshire; and, St Anne’s Community Services in South Yorkshire
Funding
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Social Care Research
Methods
There were 297 participants in the study. Information was collected during interviews about: (i) their housing arrangements, including moves and reasons: (ii) management of household tasks; (iii) income sources, management of finances and bills, and debts; (iv) family relationships and social networks; (v) health and substance misuse problems, and treatment/help received; (vi) use of community facilities; (vii) support received from services in the previous12 months; (viii) involvement in education, training, volunteering and employment; and (ix) ambitions and future plans. Different strategies were used to trace the participants who had moved or left their accommodation. Interviews were also conducted with workers who had provided support to the participants during the previous 12 months.
Publications
Main report
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: Formerly homeless people’s experiences of independent living and their longer-term outcomes. London: Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London.
Summary report
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: supporting formerly homeless people to achieve independent living. London: NIHR School for Social Care Research.
Policy and practice briefings
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: Young People – Policy and Practice Briefing. London: Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London.
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: Housing matters – Policy and Practice Briefing. London: Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London.
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: Finance and welfare benefits – Policy and Practice Briefing. London: Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London.
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: Training and employment – Policy and Practice Briefing. London: Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London.
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: Mental health matters – Policy and Practice Briefing. London: Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London.
Peer-reviewed article
Crane, M. & Joly, L. (2014) 'Older homeless people: increasing numbers and changing needs', Reviews in Clinical Gerontology.
Earlier work
Crane, M. A., Warnes, A., & Coward, S. (2011) Moves to Independent Living. Single Homeless People's Experiences and Outcomes of Resettlement: The FOR-HOME Study final report. Sheffield: Sheffield Institute for Studies on Ageing, University of Sheffield.
Conferences
(selected)
Crane, M. & Joly, L. (2015) 'Preventing and Responding to homelessness', Call for evidence - Sheffield City Council's Panel, Sheffield, 14 August.
Crane, M., Joly, L. & Manthorpe, J. (2015) 'Longer-term outcomes for older homeless people who are resettled', Homeless Link, London Councils & Shelter: Spotlight on support for older people experiencing homelessness, London, 24 June.
Crane, M. & Joly, L. (2015) 'The situation of older people becoming homeless', Homeless Link, London Councils & Shelter: Spotlight on support for older people experiencing homelessness, London, 24 June.
Crane, M. & Joly, L. (2015) 'The Homelessness Research Programme, and the Rebuilding Lives study', Symposium with Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston. London, 28 May.
Joly, L. & Crane, M. (2015) 'Conducting longitudinal research with homeless and formerly homeless people', Symposium with Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston. London, 28 May.
Joly, L., Crane, M. & Manthorpe, J. (2015) 'The Rebuilding Lives study: Outcomes over five years for homeless people who are rehoused', Housing Studies Association Conference, University of York, 9 April.
Crane, M., Joly, L. & Manthorpe, J. (2015) 'Rebuilding Lives: supporting formerly homeless people to achieve independent living', NIHR School for Social Care Research Annual Conference, London, 24 March. [This presentation was not given due to ill health, but forms part of the conference proceedings]
Crane, M., Joly, L. & Manthorpe, J. (2015) 'Rebuilding Lives: longer-term outcomes for homeless people who are resettled', Rebuilding Lives dissemination event, King's College London, 10 March.
At the dissemination event on 10 March 2015, the homelessness organisations that were involved in the study gave a formal response. Those speaking were: Peter Radage, Service Director, Framework Housing Association; Jennifer Barnes, Centrepoint; Anna Page, Policy, Public Affairs & Research Manager, St Mungo’s Broadway; Catherine Parsons, Operational Support Manager.
Crane, M., Warnes, A.M. & Joly, L. (2013) 'Outcomes of the resettlement of single homeless people', London: Invited presentation, Homelessness and Support Division, Communities and Local Government, 27 June.
Crane, M., Joly, L. & Manthorpe, J. (2013) 'Rebuilding Lives: Supporting formerly homeless people to achieve independent living', London: Housing and Social Care Research Workshop, NIHR SSCR, 29 October.
Crane, M. & Joly, L. (2014) 'The housing and support needs of older homeless people', London: ‘Housing and Support for Older Londoners’ Conference, Making Research Count, Age UK London and SCWRU, 6 February.
Publications
Main report
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: Formerly homeless people’s experiences of independent living and their longer-term outcomes. London: Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London.
Summary report
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: supporting formerly homeless people to achieve independent living. London: NIHR School for Social Care Research.
Policy and practice briefings
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: Young People – Policy and Practice Briefing. London: Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London.
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: Housing matters – Policy and Practice Briefing. London: Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London.
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: Finance and welfare benefits – Policy and Practice Briefing. London: Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London.
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: Training and employment – Policy and Practice Briefing. London: Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London.
Crane, M. A., Joly, L. M. A., & Manthorpe, J. (2016) Rebuilding Lives: Mental health matters – Policy and Practice Briefing. London: Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London.
Peer-reviewed article
Crane, M. & Joly, L. (2014) 'Older homeless people: increasing numbers and changing needs', Reviews in Clinical Gerontology.
Earlier work
Crane, M. A., Warnes, A., & Coward, S. (2011) Moves to Independent Living. Single Homeless People's Experiences and Outcomes of Resettlement: The FOR-HOME Study final report. Sheffield: Sheffield Institute for Studies on Ageing, University of Sheffield.
Conferences
(selected)
Crane, M. & Joly, L. (2015) 'Preventing and Responding to homelessness', Call for evidence - Sheffield City Council's Panel, Sheffield, 14 August.
Crane, M., Joly, L. & Manthorpe, J. (2015) 'Longer-term outcomes for older homeless people who are resettled', Homeless Link, London Councils & Shelter: Spotlight on support for older people experiencing homelessness, London, 24 June.
Crane, M. & Joly, L. (2015) 'The situation of older people becoming homeless', Homeless Link, London Councils & Shelter: Spotlight on support for older people experiencing homelessness, London, 24 June.
Crane, M. & Joly, L. (2015) 'The Homelessness Research Programme, and the Rebuilding Lives study', Symposium with Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston. London, 28 May.
Joly, L. & Crane, M. (2015) 'Conducting longitudinal research with homeless and formerly homeless people', Symposium with Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston. London, 28 May.
Joly, L., Crane, M. & Manthorpe, J. (2015) 'The Rebuilding Lives study: Outcomes over five years for homeless people who are rehoused', Housing Studies Association Conference, University of York, 9 April.
Crane, M., Joly, L. & Manthorpe, J. (2015) 'Rebuilding Lives: supporting formerly homeless people to achieve independent living', NIHR School for Social Care Research Annual Conference, London, 24 March. [This presentation was not given due to ill health, but forms part of the conference proceedings]
Crane, M., Joly, L. & Manthorpe, J. (2015) 'Rebuilding Lives: longer-term outcomes for homeless people who are resettled', Rebuilding Lives dissemination event, King's College London, 10 March.
At the dissemination event on 10 March 2015, the homelessness organisations that were involved in the study gave a formal response. Those speaking were: Peter Radage, Service Director, Framework Housing Association; Jennifer Barnes, Centrepoint; Anna Page, Policy, Public Affairs & Research Manager, St Mungo’s Broadway; Catherine Parsons, Operational Support Manager.
Crane, M., Warnes, A.M. & Joly, L. (2013) 'Outcomes of the resettlement of single homeless people', London: Invited presentation, Homelessness and Support Division, Communities and Local Government, 27 June.
Crane, M., Joly, L. & Manthorpe, J. (2013) 'Rebuilding Lives: Supporting formerly homeless people to achieve independent living', London: Housing and Social Care Research Workshop, NIHR SSCR, 29 October.
Crane, M. & Joly, L. (2014) 'The housing and support needs of older homeless people', London: ‘Housing and Support for Older Londoners’ Conference, Making Research Count, Age UK London and SCWRU, 6 February.
Our Partners
NIHR School for Social Care Research
Principal Investigator
Maureen Crane
Visiting Reader in Applied Social Research