Social Responses to Stigma

Launched by KING'S COLLEGE LONDON · Feb 27, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The "Social Responses to Stigma" study aims to understand how stigma and discrimination affect people who are homeless in south London. It will look at the experiences of these individuals and how stigma is influenced by health, social services, housing, and legal systems. The study involves talking to people who are homeless, service providers, and policymakers, and it will also include surveys and observations at various care sites. The research will run from 2022 until January 2025, with the possibility of extending it to 2028.

To participate, individuals must be over 18 years old and currently experiencing homelessness, which can include sleeping outdoors, staying in temporary shelters, or living with friends or family. Participants will be asked about their experiences and may also be observed in care settings. This study not only focuses on gathering information but also aims to develop strategies to reduce stigma, which will be tested in future interventions.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • People who are homeless
• Inclusion Criteria:
• Homelessness, in line with UK Government definitions, will be understood in an expansive way, to include past or current experiences of:
• • People who are rough sleeping (meaning people without homes who sleep outside or somewhere not designed for habitation)
• • people who are temporary residents of hostel accommodation (such as emergency night shelters, short-stay hostels, longer stay hostels, domestic violence safe houses, safe houses for victims of modern slavery and probation hostels)
• • people who are in unsupported temporary accommodation (such as B\&Bs), People who use day centres that provide support (such as food, showers, clothing and advice) for people experiencing homelessness
• • People staying temporarily with family and friends ('sofa surfing'), and
• • people with a history of homelessness (as defined by the groups above) who are at high risk of becoming homeless again because of ongoing complex health and social care needs.
• • The study will include people over the age of 18 (and exclude those under this), and with no upper age limited.
• • Participants would be principally based in, or frequently spend time in, the three boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. Reflecting the effort to explore analytical generalisability of findings, the study may also include people with experience of homelessness beyond the three boroughs (but would still need to have experience, and be aged over 18).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Unable to give informed consent
• • Stakeholders Stakeholders are defined as individuals 1) working in care and support services, or services that engage people who are homeless, and whether that is in delivery, planning or management of these, or 2) with experience or position that gives insight to processes of care and support, engagement or in stigma itself. This will include staff working across health, welfare and judicial settings, including providers as well as administrative and reception staff in these settings. Those involved in policy, such as commissioners, councillors will also be included. We will also include community activists, family members and others otherwise actively engaged in issues relating to homelessness as stakeholders.
• • The study will include people over the age of 18 (and exclude those under this), and with no upper age limited.
• • Participants would be principally based in, or frequently spend time in, the three boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. Reflecting the effort to explore analytical generalisability of findings, we may also include stakeholders beyond the three boroughs.