Katey Tabner Research Fellow

Beyond Homelessness

Developing Positive Social Networks: Research

into the application and effect of positive social

networks in tackling homelessness

Research Aims

-To what extent do LA’s and VCO’s in Scotland prioritise the development of social networks within their housing support services?

-What services currently exists for supporting and developing social networks within housing support across Scotland?

-What are the key issues in developing and promoting social networks within housing support services?

Rock TrustScottish Social Networks Glasgow School of Social Work- Strathclyde University

32 Scottish Local Authorities (LA’s)

Voluntary Community Organisations (VCO’s)

STAGE 1National Survey

64 Interviews

4 Case Study LA areas 1 Mentor VCO representative (per area)

5 Service User Researchers (per area)

20 Service User Participants (per area)

STAGE 2In field Research1 year period

Social Networks what do we mean?

In thinking about Social Networks as they affect the homeless important to remember;

•They are mutual•They are lasting•They are beneficial (Lemos 2002)

Whilst relationships between worker and service user may be deemed as providing links to a wider community and overcoming isolation, these relationships are frequently only temporary and not reciprocal. (Formal Networks)

Relationships with family members, friends, neighbours and those with shared interests or experiences often provide much of the bonding, bridging and linking relationships needed to overcome isolation (Informal Networks

• Social capital (Economic/Social/Cultural)

• Relationship type (Bonding/Bridging/Linking)

• Resilience• Independence/Interdependence• Relationships of conviviality• Reciprocal nature of the relationship• Positive or negative networks?• Restrictive nature of the relationship

Formal Social Networks Informal Social Networks

Professional Services Family

Education/Training Friends

Employment Work Colleagues

Dependency/Mental health support

Neighbors/Local Community

Church/Community Groups Shared Interest Groups

Welfare Services Trades and Services

In the experience of your authority/organisation do you feel that supporting social networks through services such as mentoring, building life skills,

befriending or mediation offer best value in the delivery of housing support services?

 In the experience of your organisation can you evidence how through providing

support services such as mentoring, building life skills, befriending or mediation individuals are more likely to maintain successful tenancies?

Figure 6 Q11 Do you currently offer any of the following services to those affected by homelessness?

Taking things further

• Combining informal and formal social networks to give balanced support

• How is it possible to measure aspects of social networks to ensure they are included in support needs assessments?

• What difficulties may be encountered in such an approach- are we opening a can of worms for which services do not exist?