Is it possible to eradicate homelessness? 

Cumbria Action for Social Support (CASS) a local voluntary organisation which provides housing and support to vulnerable people across North Cumbria has been successful in securing a two year research grant alongside researchers from King’s College London and the University of Cumbria. The research will develop a greater understanding of homeless people who have to cope with multiple problems in their lives, such as drug or alcohol dependencies, severe mental health problems and institutional experiences. The project was officially launched in Carlisle on Tuesday [2nd June 2009] at CASS’s Nelson Street offices when researchers, voluntary sector workers and people with experience of homelessness came together to share their experiences.

The programme which is funded by a range of partners including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has been devised specifically to inform government policy and practice and to help find solutions to bring vulnerable people in from the margins of our society. There are four projects taking part in this £692,000 research initiative. The Cumbria based project will look at how different professionals and agencies can best work together to tackle homelessness. The research is being led locally by Dr Michelle Cornes from King’s College and Sue O’Halloran from the University of Cumbria. The ESRC is particularly pleased that the research has such close links with the voluntary sector so that findings can be more easily disseminated to policy and practice. It is recognised that addressing the needs of some of the most disadvantaged people in our society is key to preventing homelessness and achieving the Government’s goal of ending rough sleeping by 2012. 

Research Leaflet below.