Yesterday I-SPHERE presented at the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) Knowledge Exchange Hub Stakeholder Engagement Event in Belfast. The audience was made up of key representatives across the statutory, voluntary and academic sectors.

Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick presented findings of work with Dr. Peter Mackie, Cardiff University and Dr.Jenny Wood of I-SPHERE on ‘Homelessness Prevention in the UK – inter-jurisdictional comparisons’. Drawing on this work and the Homelessness Monitor Series funded by Crisis and Joseph Rowntree Foundation, she highlighted the impacts of varying policy, legislation and funding across the UK and stressed the importance of factors such as health and social care support in homelessness prevention. She also highlighted dangers of ineffective temporary accommodation and championed the move to Housing First for people with complex needs.

Lynne McMordie (PhD student with I-SPHERE and previous research intern in our partnership project with the Oak Foundation), presented findings from her research on temporary accommodation. She highlighted that the environment of temporary accommodation, on top of existing trauma, can be intensely stressful for people experiencing homelessness – compounding rather than reducing problems. You can read her report here.

This afternoon The State of Hunger is being launched by the Trussell Trust in London.
The Trussell Trust is an anti-poverty charity that runs a network of food banks across the UK.  I-SPHERE were commissioned to deliver The State of Hunger, a three-year research project looking into the experience and drivers of hunger and poverty in the UK.  It will provide the most robust data on the reasons behind severe food insecurity in the UK and help develop evidence-based solutions to end UK hunger and poverty.

The launch event is being hosted by Heidi Allen MP and chaired by Trussell Trust CEO Emma Revie in Westminster. The event will introduce the project and an interim report, and also include a panel discussion with Heidi Allen MP, Baroness Molly Meacher, journalist Patrick Butler (The Guardian) and I-SPHERE’s Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick.

 

Keep an eye on our website, twitter @ISPHERE_HWU or get in touch for more information on these projects, other forthcoming publications, or any other aspect of our work.