Dr Alison JarvisJRF Programme Manager

Housing and Social Inclusion: old issues; new research

Picture credit: Chris Steele-Perkins/Magnum

Today's Structure:

•Where JRF come from•Old issues, new research…

– Space– Homelessness– Initial access

•… and implications of welfare reform

old issues; new research

Where we come from

Our founder

JRF's origins:

The Village Trust

Place issues still central: Why?

The place where

someone lives is

central to their

quality of life.

Space

"What should we worry about when we worry about housing problems?"

Britain’s housing system is in crisis. However it was also in crisis twenty years ago when Rebecca Tunstall began working in research, and a century ago when Joseph Rowntree established his trusts in York. Britain’s residents and those who make housing policy face numerous, reoccurring and sometimes contradictory housing problems – high costs, falling prices, insecurity, immobility, low quality and rising expectations.

Introduction to inaugural lecture by Rebecca Tunstall

Space distribution:

•In absolute terms, overcrowding has improved dramatically over the course of the last century

•But how has available space fared in relative terms?

•Gap between top and bottom bears comparison with another era:

Source: Rebecca Tunstall, 2012

Housing problems amongst families with disabled children:

Source: Oldman & Beresford, 2003

Homelessness

Statutory Homelessness…

Source: Martin Evan's blog

Visible Homelessness…

•'Visible' homelessness commonly happens after long-term contact with non-housing organisations e.g. mental health, drug agencies, criminal justice, social services.•Traumatic childhood experiences (homelessness, abuse, neglect) feature in most street homeless people's life histories. •In adulthood, reported incidence of mental ill-being is high:

– 80% of people using homelessness support services experience anxiety/depression

– Over 33% have attempted suicide

… more than a housing issue.

Source: JRF/ESRC programme 2011

Complex Lives…

Source: Fitzpatrick et al. Census Questionnaire Survey, 2010

98% homelessness

47% 70% substance misuse

67% street culture

62% institutional setting

Initial Access

Source: Clapham et al 2011

Predictions for young people (aged 18-30) in 2020…

Source: Clapham et al, 2011

A differential private rented sector…

The ‘so what?’ question…Without fundamental reform to the housing system to create suitable options, young people in 2020 will be increasingly marginalised in a badly functioning housing system;

Three groups of young people will be

particularly hard hit:

Source: Clapham et al, 2011

… and Welfare Reform

Welfare Reform Measure Research Question

Bedroom Tax Is this likely to help or hinder a more equal distribution of space? Does this matter?

Benefits Cap Is this likely to help or hinder someone living on the streets?Does this matter?

Non-Dependent deductions Is this likely to ease young people's transitions into their own place? Does this matter?

STAYING IN TOUCH…Website: www.jrf.org.ukEmail: alison.jarvis@jrf.org.ukTwitter: @jrf_uk

@alyjar

Thank you for listening