From pillar to post: homeless women's experiences of social care

Abstract

General rightsThis document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above. Full terms of use are available: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/pure/about/ebr-terms 1 ABSTRACT This paper reports findings from a longitudinal study of homeless women. Thirty eight women were initially recruited with a retention rate of 58% over three rounds of interviews.Interviews explored specific events in women's lives, their current living arrangements and how their experiences and needs, including for social care, changed over time. Women reported a range of complex issues and difficulties, consistent with experiences of deep social exclusion and received support from both statutory and voluntary agencies. Although women appreciated the support they received, many reported that services were fragmented and rarely personalised to their needs.Key words: homelessness; social care; fragmentation; personalisation. What is known about this topic: The causes of homelessness are multi-faceted and impact differently on men and women. Social care services for homeless people are provided by a wide range of agencies from across the statutory and non-statutory sectors. What this paper adds: Many women were supported by multiple key workers, each based in separate agencies. Successive interviews with women revealed that this approach intensified the fragmented and uncoordinated nature of services. There were mixed views about the benefits of counselling. Group sessions were reported to be intimidating and unproductive, particularly when men were present.

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