We are delighted that for our April seminar, we will be joined by Dr Branagh – Dr Branagh O’Shaughnessy, School of Language, Education and Psychology, York St John University and Dr Paula Mayock, School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin to talk abut their research, Healing Histories and Overcoming Adversity: The Complex Recovery Dynamics of Homelessness and Substance Use Disorder

In this talk they will present the first phase of findings from a longitudinal qualitative study of recovery and homelessness. The relationship between substance use disorder (SUD) and homelessness is complex and understanding of what supports stability and recovery from homelessness and SUD is only partially understood in the literature. The study aimed to employ the lens of ‘complex recovery’ to examine the recovery dynamics of homeless service users in housing-led and staircase-orientated service contexts in Ireland. Sixty individuals across three different service contexts (emergency and transitional accommodation and housing with supports) were recruited and interviewed. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed three themes: Home, Stability and Safety’; ‘Recovery Signifiers and Supports’; and ‘Relationships as both Replenishing and Depleting’. Recovery dynamics – which reflect the interactional process of constructing and pursuing recovery in homelessness service contexts – were either progressive, stalled or constrained. Implications of findings for practice and policy will be discussed.