Identifying predictors and consequences of homelessness in NI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying predictors and consequences of homelessness in Northern Ireland using linked homelessness, social services and health administrative data
IRAS ID
299887
Contact name
Declan Bradley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 31 days
Research summary
People who experience homelessness are at greater risk of death, hospital admission related to substance misuse, and poor mental and physical health. Analysis of anonymised data (without personal details) recorded by public authorities can provide information that could lead to action to prevent homelessness or to improve services for people experiencing homelessness.\n\nThe Department for Communities in Northern Ireland reported 4,306 households applying to be considered homeless between January and March 2021, 2,717 of which were accepted as homeless (or threatened with homelessness), in priority need and unintentionally homeless. The most common reason for homelessness (27%) was “accommodation not reasonable”; for three quarters of these, the underlying reason was physical health, disability or mental health. Eighteen people were observed to be sleeping rough in Northern Ireland’s most recent survey in autumn 2020.\n\nOur research questions are: what leads to people becoming homeless?; and what are the health consequences of experiencing homelessness?\n\nSafely accessing and analysing anonymised routine data in Northern Ireland (including focusing on children, young people and pregnant women) will help us understand the causes and consequences of homelessness. Our main analysis method will involve comparing people who experienced homelessness to other people from the same area, who have similar characteristics but did not experience homelessness. Our goal is that the information we produce will help inform policies to prevent and reduce harm from homelessness. \n
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/SC/0065
Date of REC Opinion
18 Feb 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion