News and updates

At-a-glance evidence of what works to end homelessness

Summaries of existing research into how to relieve and prevent homelessness are to be published in a series of short papers by the Centre for Homelessness Impact.

Money spent on housing support could be used more effectively, new joint report finds

A new report by the Chartered institute of Housing (CIH) and the Centre for Homelessness Impact highlights that money spent on housing support could be used more effectively.

An evidence-based approach to tackling homelessness health inequalities

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how social inequality has implications for public health: rates of infection were much higher in communities where overcrowded households were more common. We know that the most extreme form of housing inequality is homelessness and it is here that health inequalities have, for decades, been greatest. 

Ending homelessness: What would it take?

Sir Michael Barber, who was head of Tony Blair’s Delivery Unit from 2001-05 and set up a similar unit for Boris Johnson, is to advise the Centre for Homelessness Impact on delivering its mission to support the use of evidence to end homelessness. He explains why.

Ending homelessness must be central to 'levelling up'

Dame Julia Unwin says economic recovery and investing in 'disadvantaged' communities is doomed to fail unless it addresses homelessness

Common barriers to innovative and experimental policymaking in Local Authorities

As we wrap up the second round of our What Works Community programme, we reflect on three problems that crop up time and again.

Centre For Homelessness Impact joins forces with Comic Relief

The Centre For Homelessness Impact (CHI) has forged a new partnership with Comic Relief to accelerate its work to bring a ‘what works’ approach to ending homelessness in more communities across the United Kingdom.

Building a ‘what works’ movement to end homelessness for good

New partnership between Comic Relief and CHI will scale up capacity for evidence-led change.

Time for homelessness services to listen to the individual

MHCLG’s latest evaluation is significant for its rigorous evaluation of a promising model of homelessness prevention. Ligia Teixeira, CEO of The Centre for Homelessness Impact, explains why we should pay attention.

Using evidence to analyse and improve impact

How the homelessness charity Reconnect UK rethought its strategy thanks to one of our evidence surgeries

Radical collaboration to achieve lasting change

Consultant and strategist Lizzie Hodgson offered some inspiration to our What Works Community cohort as we wrapped up the first full year of the programme

Using data and young people's lived experiences to 'design out' homelessness

The chief executive of St Basils describes how weaving data on performance with evidence from our young people’s lived experiences provides a richer, truer picture

Gendered approaches have been neglected for too long within housing policy. It's time for a new approach.

Leanna Fairfax has experienced first-hand the lack of consideration for women experiencing homelessness and violence, here she discusses the importance of a gendered approach to homelessness and housing policy.

Better support needed for women who become homeless because of violence

Based on research published today, CHI and the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) call for responses to women experiencing homelessness and violence, to be “gender-informed.”

Time to look at outcomes, not spending

The public need the tools to determine whether they’re getting value for money, says former Treasury official and Centre for Homelessness Impact chair of trustees Andrew Hudson

Real experiences are vital in the evidence-led transformation of the field

Hannah Green, our Communications and Lived Experiences Specialist, discusses the importance of using real-life stories as evidence to end homelessness.

How sharing international insights can help advance progress on ending homelessness for good

Suzanne Fitzpatrick and Dennis Culhane discuss the importance of evidence to researchers on both sides of the Atlantic, and how these distinct research traditions can collaborate to #EndItWithEvidence.

Introducing innovations: Crowdsourcing the next iteration of our Evidence and Gap Maps

We are proud to be partnering with Cochrane to provide an open platform to help build an evidence base for homelessness.

Not mission impossible: An evidenced-driven approach to ending homelessness is within our grasp

End It With Evidence ambassador Jeremy Swain argues that pragmatic, clear-eyed rigour is needed to end homelessness

The UK's first pilot Randomised Controlled Trial in homelessness

A Randomised Controlled Trial will explore which housing options are most likely to provide positive outcomes for people moving on from COVID-19 emergency accommodation.

End It With Evidence ambassador and Conservative MP, Bob Blackman, says urgent action is needed to prevent a rise in homelessness

End It With Evidence ambassador and Conservative MP Bob Blackman calls for urgent action to prevent a rise in homelessness

What the movement for data and evidence in homelessness could mean for local councils

End It With Evidence ambassador and Labour MP, Stephen Timms, explores the value of adopting an evidence-based approach to policy in his London constituency.

Progress towards ending homelessness in each community can be monitored with new data added to our SHARE reporting platform.

Key homelessness data indicators at local authority level added to SHARE platform

More attention must be paid to homelessness, say three in four of us

New research from the Centre for Homelessness Impact and Ipsos MORI explores the public's perceptions of homelessness.

Where in the world is all the evidence on what works and why in homelessness?

Our updated Evidence Finder shows clearly where studies evaluating homelessness interventions exist.

Greg Hurst joins the CHI team

We are delighted to announce that Greg Hurst has joined the Centre for Homelessness Impact team as Head of Communications and Public Affairs. 

Rent Guarantees could be key to help Universal Credit claimants unlock the private rental market

Landmark collaboration between Centre for Homelessness Impact, NRLA and BIT explores ways to encourage private sector landlords to support tenancies from people receiving Universal Credit.

How can we learn from other fields to help us to end homelessness?

End it with Evidence campaign ambassador Sir Geoff Mulgan CBE shares what the homelessness sector stands to benefit by adopting a data-led approach to ending homelessness.

Updated Evidence and Gap Map on Implementation

The updated 2021 edition shows 275 studies on why interventions to improve the welfare of people experiencing homelessness or at risk work or not.

Improving services starts with people

In this blog for the Chartered Institute of Housing our Lived Experiences Specialist, Hannah Green, talks about developing service based on what works and creating person-led and psychologically informed services.

Homelessness and COVID-19: a comparison of responses in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England

To better understand the different approaches of each UK nation during the pandemic, Nick Bartholdy and Faye Greaves present a detailed comparison of homelessness data and legislation both before and during COVID-19.

How can we improve access for people experiencing homelessness and disability?

In this blog, @bullringbash1 talks about his experiences of homelessness and the additional challenges faced by people with physical health problems and disabilities.

Homelessness Impact: A What Works Perspective

Our first impact report sets out how we are moving towards our vision of improving the lives of people experiencing homelessness through evidence-led change.

What Works Community: Launching a New Cohort

As we kickoff 2021, our resolution is to continue to work towards ending homelesness with evidence. With that in mind, we’re excited to announce our newest cohort of local authorities joining our commitment by participating in our What Works Community Evidence Accelerator and Evidence Academy.

NICE Guideline: Integrated health and social care for people experiencing homelessness

The Centre for Homelessness Impact has worked with NICE and PHE to develop the final scope for an upcoming guideline on Best practice for Integrated health and social care for people experiencing homelessness.

Ending It with evidence from around the globe

Stephen Aldridge, Director for Analysis and Data, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government discusses the Homelessness Research Network and the opportunities for expansion as we move into 2021

Alison Griffin: Making evidence-led change in Southend

Ali Griffin is the Chief Executive at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and one of our Founding Ambassadors in our #EndItWithEvidence campaign. In this blog, as part of the campaign, she reflects on Southend's involvement in the What Works Community and the importance of evidence and data in ending homelessness. 

2020 - A year unlike any other, but what have we learnt? 

As 2021 approaches, the CHI team reflects on what this year has taught us.

One in six believe that they could be affected by homelessness

A recent survey conducted by Centre for Homelessness Impact and Ipsos MORI polled the public on their perceptions and attitudes towards issues relating to homelessness.

Research Network meeting: July 2020

Read more about July's Homelessness Research Network meeting

Research Network meeting: September 2020

Read more about September's Homelessness Research Network meeting

Research Network meeting: November 2020

Read more about November's Homelessness Research Network meeting

Towards the evidence-led transformation of the homelessness sector

As we launch the End It With Evidence campaign - Our CEO, Dr Ligia Teixeira considers the journey we need to go on together.

What Works Community: Wrapping up the pilot year

As the year and our first What Works Community pilot comes to an end, we take time to reflect on our pilot journey alongside our local authority partners from East Ayrshire, Pembrokeshire, and Southend-on-Sea.

What next for Housing First in Scotland?

Dr Ligia Teixeira reflects on the success of Housing First in Scotland and considers what the sector needs to do next to move towards ending homelessness in Scotland.

What the latest statistics tell us about homelessness trends in Wales

The data team at the Centre for Homelessness Impact looks at the insights from the recent release of homelessness data from Wales.

CHI's statement in response to the Spending Review

The Centre for Homelessness Impact issued the following statement this afternoon following Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Spending Review announcement that an additional £254 million will be available for the next financial year to improve outcomes for people who are homeless.

Systematic Review on Substance Use - Call for Evidence

We're working with the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit at Manchester Metropolitan University to undertake a systematic review of the effectiveness of harm reduction versus abstinence-based substance use interventions for people experiencing homelessness.

“Discharged back to the streets”: how can we ensure people leaving institutions have a home?

In order for us to work towards an evidence-based end to homelessness, tackling the causes, minimising and eventually eliminating the effects, it is vital that we look at all routes into homelessness. 

This is what it's like to stay in a 'high risk homeless hostel'

Our Lived Experience Specialist Hannah Green reflects on the findings of our Systematic Review on Accommodation, and shares her experiences of living in temporary accommodation.

Accommodation-based programmes for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness

In order to design and deliver quality accommodation based interventions, it is vital that we produce more rigorous evidence in the UK so the sector can deliver services that are truly beneficial to the people receiving them. 

Evidence shows support crucial to ending homelessness

The Systematic Review on Accommodation released today by the Centre for Homelessness Impact shows that for many people experiencing homelessness, personalised support is crucial in order to successfully avoid returning to homelessness. 

Updated Evidence and Gap Map shows increase in homelessness studies

Today we release the third iteration of our evidence and gap map (EGM) on effectiveness. This version of the EGM confirms that the tide may be turning when it comes to the use of evidence in homelessness.

Does awareness raising really work?

Each year on the 10th October, both World Homeless Day and World Mental Health Day are used as tools to try and increase awareness and understanding, but do these days actually work? 

Good quality employment whilst experiencing homelessness: is it possible?

The relationship between homelessness and employment is a complex one and many people find themselves experiencing homelessness whilst still in employment. Often, those who are not employed but want to, are unable to for a variety of reasons, for example if they don’t have access to a bank account. 

Personalised employment support essential to stem homelessness as furlough ends

Today the Centre for Homelessness Impact releases a new policy paper: Employment and homelessness in the context of the new economy following Covid-19.

Centre for Homelessness Impact and Cardiff University lead new major trial

The Centre for Homelessness Impact in partnership with Cardiff University has been awarded funding to deliver an innovative study evaluating the effectiveness of local authority responses to homelessness following COVID-19.

How can the media help us end homelessness?

During our Impact Festival we held a discussion with a panel of journalists on the role the media plays in ending homelessness. Here, our Lived Experiences Specialist Hannah Green explores that question further.

Systematic review: Do discharge programmes reduce the likelihood of homelessness?

Our Head of Evidence and Data, Guillermo Rodriguez-Guzman, shares key findings from our systematic review, on the effectiveness of discharge programmes for individuals experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Evictions ban: where to now?

The ban on possession proceedings in England and Wales has been extended until 20th September. It will be important to use the next four weeks wisely to stop evictions leading to a rise in homelessness, explains CHI’s CEO Dr Ligia Teixeira.

Impact Festival 2020 Highlights

In this blog post our Lived Experiences Specialist, Hannah Green, picks out the teams personal highlights along with the key take-home messages

Accelerating impact: reflections on the Impact Festival 2020

Over the past 5 weeks, we've held over 50 events, hearing from over 150 speakers who made the space in their busy diaries to join us. In this blog post our CEO Dr Ligia Teixeira reflects on the Festival and what’s next to come.

Impact Festival: week four in summary

Our Lived Experience Specialist, Hannah Green, shares her learning from week four of the Impact Festival – where we explored the importance of connecting people with place, and with each other.

Local Authorities invited to improve their homelessness services using data and evidence

The Centre for Homelessness Impact is recruiting local authorities to join their What Works Community: Local Government initiative which will focus on evidence-led methods of ending and preventing homelessness.

What the latest street homelessness statistics in London tell us about how the population is changing

Our Evidence and Data team explore some of the trends in the newly released figures for street homelessness in London (CHAIN data), and suggest some areas to focus on as we move into the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact Festival: a summary of week two

How do we create a housing system that leaves no one behind? We brought 27 speakers together across six events to put an intersectional lens on not just improving availability and access to housing, but making sure the housing we have is of sufficient quality and appropriate to people's needs.

Impact Festival: a summary of our first week

The first week of our Impact Festival included a total of 13 events, with 32 different speakers. It focused on the ‘S’ of our SHARE framework; designing smart policies and programmes.

It's time to make an Impact: Impact Festival kicks off on Monday

With speakers including Minister Julie James, John Kay and David Halpern, you won't want to miss week one of the Impact Festival.

Introducing the 2020 Homelessness Impact Festival

Dr Ligia Teixeira shares her vision for the 2020 Impact Festival

Introducing Hannah Green - CHI's Lived Experience Specialist

The Centre for Homelessness Impact's new Lived Experience Specialist introduces herself and her vision for the future.

COVID-19 Homelessness Index: 05/28 update

In this blog, we update our COVID-19 Homelessness Index for England between the 4th May and 26th May.

Strengthening systems for the future with Nan Roman and Catriona MacKean

Dr Lígia Teixeira speaks with Nan Roman and Catriona MacKean, about the challenges COVID-19 has created in both the US and Scotland.

Introducing the Housing Costs Calculator to support effective COVID-19 planning

In this blog post, our head of evidence and data Guillermo Rodriguez-Guzman explains why we created a new cost modelling tool and how city leaders can use it to develop data-informed plans.

Public meets private sector: Uniting during the COVID-19 crisis

To meet the unprecedented challenges faced by the homelessness sector at the start of the COVID-19 crisis, partnerships between the public and private sector have rapidly formed.

Feeling safe: How can we limit trauma during Covid-19?

Our CEO Dr Lígia Teixeira talks to Dr Emma Williamson and Hannah Green. We'll explore their experiences, insight and current work in relation to tackling homelessness, and how we can best support the wellbeing of both people experiencing homelessness and the people that work with them in times of crisis.

How are funders adapting to the COVID-19 crisis?

Amanda Andere and Jennie Thompson explore their current work in relation to tackling homelessness, and the role of philanthropy and funders in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A measured response with Dr Neil Hamlet and Viki Fox

In this video CHI's CEO Dr Lígia Teixeira talks to Dr Neil Hamlet, Public Health consultant, NHS Fife, and Viki Fox, Trustee of Crisis and teacher at Cyrenians.

No Ordinary Emergency with Linda Gibbs

In this video CHI's CEO Dr Lígia Teixeira talks to Linda Gibbs about how existing disaster protocol can be applied to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clinical homeless sector plan with Dr. Story + Prof. Hayward: 3.4.20

CHI's CEO Dr Lígia Teixeira talks to Dr. Alistair Story and Prof. Andrew Hayward, who put together the COVID-19 Homeless Sector Plan. The plan aims to avoid concentrated outbreaks of the disease that would likely spread quickly among this vulnerable population.

COVID-19 Homelessness Index: 07.05.20 update

In this blog, we update our COVID-19 Homelessness Index for England between the 21st April and 4th May.

Choice, control and connections: Preventing Trauma in the COVID-19 crisis

As part of our COVID-19 series, writer and activist Hannah Green shares her thoughts on how can frontline services can deliver trauma-informed services.

Building the evidence ecosystem for homelessness

Howard White, CEO of Campbell Collaboration reflects on his contribution to Using Evidence to End Homelessness

Using Evidence to End Homelessness: available now

We are delighted to announce that Wednesday 29 April marks the release of Using Evidence to End Homelessness. 

Using Evidence to End Homelessness – the book

Today we publish Using Evidence to End Homelessness, with Policy Press. Our CEO Ligia Teixeira explains why this is an important moment for us and the other book contributors.

Global statement of solidarity and action to #ProtectTheUnhoused from COVID-19 

A NGO Working Group has called upon the UN and its Member States to prioritise people experiencing homelessness in all #COVID19 relief efforts.

COVID-19 Homelessness Index: 21.04.20 update

In this blog we update our COVID-19 Homelessness Index for England between the 7th and 20th of April.

Are we rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic, or can we avoid the iceberg?

In this piece for Inside Housing, Dr Ligia Teixeira discusses what can be done to turn the COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity to transform the homelessness system.

CHI's COVID-19 Homelessness Research Database

We're launching a curated database including information and links to the latest academic articles on the relationship between COVID-19 and Homelessness.

Introducing the COVID-19 index

To help to shed some light on the risk of exposure faced by people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic, we have created the COVID-19-Homelessness Index.

COVID-19 Talk series: No ordinary emergency with Linda Gibbs

How can examples from other cities help us deal with this crisis? Hear from Linda Gibbs, Principal for Social Services at Bloomberg Associates, New York.

Are people experiencing homelessness more at risk of COVID-19?

In this blog we delve into the international evidence on COVID-19, risk factors, and how these are more common among people living in homelessness

COVID-19 Talk Series: Clinical Homeless Sector Plan

The first in our COVID-19 talk series explores the COVID-19 Homeless Sector Plan with its creators, Dr Alistair Story and Prof. Andrew Hayward.

We have a chance to redesign the homelessness system

From the current crisis, a better world could emerge, says Dr Lígia Teixeira our chief executive.

What Works Community pilot: our second residential

Our second WWC residential was designed to build capacity in data visualisation, behavioural insights and evaluation before our teams pitched their ideas to a Progress Panel.

CHI’s Head of Evidence and Data, Guillermo Rodriguez-Guzman, appointed to Government What Works Trial Advice Panel

Today we are delighted that our Head of Evidence and Data, Guillermo Rodriguez-Guzman, has been appointed, among 50 others, to the What Works Trial Advice Panel (TAP) which will support the improvement of the quality and quantity of impact evaluations across central government to foster a better understanding of ‘What Works’.

New reporting platform will track progress towards ending homelessness in UK

A new reporting platform which aims to give insight into the conditions required to prevent homelessness has been launched today by the Centre for Homelessness Impact (CHI) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Measuring what matters: introducing a new set of homelessness indicators

It's time to ensure we are creating the right conditions to end homelessness for good everywhere in the UK. In this post our CEO introduces a new set of homelessness indicators and reporting platform developed in collaboration with the ONS to help us get there.

What Works Community pilot: exploring design methods

We believe that by combining the heart and the head we can turn good intentions into lasting impact. To help our team of LAs to innovate and achieve breakthrough results, the programme of our What Works Community pilot includes combining innovative data practices with person-centred approaches to systems design.

The CHI team share their highlights of 2019

The end of the year is a time for reflection. Here the team share their highlights of the last 12 months and to look ahead at what’s to come in 2020.

CHI announces Guillermo Rodríguez as its new Head of Evidence and Data

Dr Ligia Teixeira, Chief Executive of the Centre for Homelessness Impact (CHI) has announced the appointment of Guillermo Rodríguez as CHI’s new Head of Data and Evidence.