This study by the University of York and Herriot Watt University examines the use of medical evidence in homelessness applications in England. It does so by examining the decision-making practices in three different local authorities: London Borough, Northern City and Eastern Town.
For further details and download the summary of the report click here
Showing posts with label New Research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Research. Show all posts
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Friday, 10 February 2012
NEWS FROM CHR ST ANDREWS
CHR Event: Facing the Challenges to Housing Scotland's People
The Centre for Housing Research sponsored a one day roundtable on February 3 to seek consensus on the housing issues that need urgent attention in Scotland. Organised by Knowledge Exchange Specialist, Sharon Chisholm, the event was intended to discuss and agree on the important issues by stimulating a conversation with key stakeholders. Grainia Long of CIH, kicked the day off with a stimulating review of where we have come to, what opportunities have been missed and the urgent need for immediate action. Michael Lennon, Derek Ballantyne and Per Ahren provided international perspectives and a host of other presentations focused on key issues across all tenures.
Carnegie Funded Research: Housing Associations and the 'Big Society'
Dr Kim McKee has been awarded a Carnegie Foundation small grant to research the impact of the big society on housing policy in Scotland. Focusing on the community-based housing sector in Scotland and the role of housing associations as ‘community anchors’, this exploratory qualitative study will deconstruct the ideas underpinning the big society and explore the strengths and weaknesses of this political ideology for housing policy and practice. It will report in the Spring.
New research project from CHR
Entitled ‘Mind the (Housing) Wealth Gap: Intergenerational Justice and Family Welfare’, this three year project is concerned with the wealth inequalities and injustice that exist not only between but within generations. It is being funded by the Leverhulme Trust and will be led by Dr Beverley Searle, combining expertise from the Universities of St Andrews (Dr Kim McKee, and Professor Duncan Maclennan), Durham (Professor Lorna Fox), Birmingham (Professor Karen Rowlingson) and Delft (Dr Maarten van Ham). Access to private wealth (notably housing wealth) is of increasing political and social importance. It not only determines the quality of life for older people but increasingly determines life chances of younger people. This new project will explore concerns of intergenerational justice and the new tensions between family members arising from competing demands - inheritance vs welfare – on families limited wealth resources. Understanding these issues will become vital to addressing the inequalities and injustices that current and future generations experience.For further information please contact Dr Beverley Searle at bas4@st-andrews.ac.uk
CHR Event: Facing the Challenges to Housing Scotland's People
The Centre for Housing Research sponsored a one day roundtable on February 3 to seek consensus on the housing issues that need urgent attention in Scotland. Organised by Knowledge Exchange Specialist, Sharon Chisholm, the event was intended to discuss and agree on the important issues by stimulating a conversation with key stakeholders. Grainia Long of CIH, kicked the day off with a stimulating review of where we have come to, what opportunities have been missed and the urgent need for immediate action. Michael Lennon, Derek Ballantyne and Per Ahren provided international perspectives and a host of other presentations focused on key issues across all tenures.
Carnegie Funded Research: Housing Associations and the 'Big Society'
Dr Kim McKee has been awarded a Carnegie Foundation small grant to research the impact of the big society on housing policy in Scotland. Focusing on the community-based housing sector in Scotland and the role of housing associations as ‘community anchors’, this exploratory qualitative study will deconstruct the ideas underpinning the big society and explore the strengths and weaknesses of this political ideology for housing policy and practice. It will report in the Spring.
New research project from CHR
Entitled ‘Mind the (Housing) Wealth Gap: Intergenerational Justice and Family Welfare’, this three year project is concerned with the wealth inequalities and injustice that exist not only between but within generations. It is being funded by the Leverhulme Trust and will be led by Dr Beverley Searle, combining expertise from the Universities of St Andrews (Dr Kim McKee, and Professor Duncan Maclennan), Durham (Professor Lorna Fox), Birmingham (Professor Karen Rowlingson) and Delft (Dr Maarten van Ham). Access to private wealth (notably housing wealth) is of increasing political and social importance. It not only determines the quality of life for older people but increasingly determines life chances of younger people. This new project will explore concerns of intergenerational justice and the new tensions between family members arising from competing demands - inheritance vs welfare – on families limited wealth resources. Understanding these issues will become vital to addressing the inequalities and injustices that current and future generations experience.For further information please contact Dr Beverley Searle at bas4@st-andrews.ac.uk
Thursday, 7 April 2011
British Academy small grant: travel to school and housing markets
Ed Ferrari recently won a British Academy small grant to undertake a short project looking at the relationship between travel to school and housing markets in the UK and US. The project aims to collect some baseline comparative microdata from cities in the UK and US and undertake some preliminary analysis in collaboration with Professor Marc Schlossberg of the University of Oregon. For further details contact e.t.ferrari@sheffield.ac.uk
Ed Ferrari recently won a British Academy small grant to undertake a short project looking at the relationship between travel to school and housing markets in the UK and US. The project aims to collect some baseline comparative microdata from cities in the UK and US and undertake some preliminary analysis in collaboration with Professor Marc Schlossberg of the University of Oregon. For further details contact e.t.ferrari@sheffield.ac.uk
Monday, 14 February 2011
New report on local housing market volatility
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation recently published the report Local Housing Market Volatility, which was written by Ed Ferrari and Alasdair Rae (Sheffield University). The report, which was written as as submission to the JRF's Housing Markets Taskforce, finds that the last housing market boom - which ended with the credit crunch - was one of the longest in recent history and exacerbated regional and local inequalities in the housing market. The gaps between different parts of the country grew wider in housing market terms. The report suggests that policymakers need to renew their attention to the demand side of the housing market - and regional differentials in the economy in particular. It also suggests that these regional differentials and patterns of population mobility within the country serve to reinforce structural patterns of inequality in the housing market.
The full report and a four page summary 'Findings' can be downloaded from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's website at: http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/local-housing-market-volatility
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation recently published the report Local Housing Market Volatility, which was written by Ed Ferrari and Alasdair Rae (Sheffield University). The report, which was written as as submission to the JRF's Housing Markets Taskforce, finds that the last housing market boom - which ended with the credit crunch - was one of the longest in recent history and exacerbated regional and local inequalities in the housing market. The gaps between different parts of the country grew wider in housing market terms. The report suggests that policymakers need to renew their attention to the demand side of the housing market - and regional differentials in the economy in particular. It also suggests that these regional differentials and patterns of population mobility within the country serve to reinforce structural patterns of inequality in the housing market.
The full report and a four page summary 'Findings' can be downloaded from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's website at: http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/local-housing-market-volatility
Heriot-Watt University launches new research institute
Heriot Watt University's School of the Built Environment is delighted to announce the establishment of a new research institute, to be launched on the occasion of Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick's inaugural lecture on 4th May 2011. This new 'Institute for Housing, Urban and Real Estate Research' (IHURER) will be directed by Professor Glen Bramley, and will bring together a number of existing research groups within the School of the Built Environment (SBE), including:
· Centre for Research into Socially Inclusive Services
· Housing and Urban Society
· Property Economics and Investment
The new Institute will also encompass Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick and Dr Sarah Johnsen's work on homelessness, social exclusion and related issues, following their move to Heriot-Watt from the University of York in July 2010. Details of the Institute’s launch event and Professor Fitzpatrick's inaugural lecture will be circulated shortly.
Heriot Watt University's School of the Built Environment is delighted to announce the establishment of a new research institute, to be launched on the occasion of Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick's inaugural lecture on 4th May 2011. This new 'Institute for Housing, Urban and Real Estate Research' (IHURER) will be directed by Professor Glen Bramley, and will bring together a number of existing research groups within the School of the Built Environment (SBE), including:
· Centre for Research into Socially Inclusive Services
· Housing and Urban Society
· Property Economics and Investment
The new Institute will also encompass Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick and Dr Sarah Johnsen's work on homelessness, social exclusion and related issues, following their move to Heriot-Watt from the University of York in July 2010. Details of the Institute’s launch event and Professor Fitzpatrick's inaugural lecture will be circulated shortly.
Friday, 4 December 2009
NEWS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
New Research
A team of researchers from the University of Glasgow (Rob Croudace, Nigel Sprigings and Kim McKee) and the Scottish Community Development Council are embarking on research for Scottish Natural Heritage with the purpose of exploring the social impacts of Scotland's natural environment. The study will consider issues such as health and well-being, volunteering and quality of life.
A team of researchers from the University of Glasgow (Rob Croudace, Nigel Sprigings and Kim McKee) and the Scottish Community Development Council are embarking on research for Scottish Natural Heritage with the purpose of exploring the social impacts of Scotland's natural environment. The study will consider issues such as health and well-being, volunteering and quality of life.
Thursday, 29 October 2009
EARLY CAREER FEATURE
Regeneration in Deprived Coastal Communities- an exploration beyond tourism
The British government currently has no direct policy targeted specifically at coastal towns which may be due in part to their considerable variability in size and characteristics. It has been noted over recent years that Britain’s seaside towns have become a ‘problem area’, yet little research into the depth, causes, and consequences of these ‘problems’ has taken place (for some discussion see Beatty and Fothergill 2004) . Despite this apparent lack of political direction and academic research, the indices of deprivation (2007) show that many coastal areas suffer from high levels of deprivation, in some cases, comparable to those found in our inner cities.
In 2006 the House of Commons Coastal Town Report concluded to central government that coastal towns in England do in fact share some common features. Such features include physical and social isolation of individuals and populations, seasonal employment/low wage /skilled jobs, dependence on a single industry and outward migration of young people compared to an in-ward migration of older people. Also highlighted in this report was the ‘high incidence of poor housing conditions and a high proportion of privately rented homes found in coastal town’s (House of Commons 2006 p9). Particular reference is made to Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs). A HMO is a building in which more than one household shares an amenity, a converted building which does not contain entirely self contained flats and is occupied by more than one household. The House of Commons report makes a connection between vulnerable transient populations and the high levels of HMOs in seaside towns. These vulnerable populations, i.e. people “who are unable to meet their own everyday needs owing to a physical or mental health condition or who are vulnerable because of their situation, such as homelessness”, may be looking for cheap, easily obtainable accommodation (House of Commons 2006, p18). In some coastal towns this has led to the marginalization of poor residents into the same houses, streets and neighbourhoods, creating, in some coastal towns across the country, what could be referred to as ‘seaside slums’. Although no policy has been developed or established by the government to combat the characteristic problems of some coastal towns, a number of more broad polices have been put into effect including the Housing Act 2004, which introduced a mandatory licensing scheme for HMOs in an attempt to raise housing conditions and New Labour’s commitment to Neighbourhood Renewal (NR) which aims to improve the quality of life of those living in the most deprived neighbourhoods. The rest of this paper shall give a brief evaluation of each policy at work in the coastal town of Ilfracombe.
The author has been conducting research in the town of Ilfracombe, situated on the North Devon coast in the South West of England. Ilfracombe has suffered from economic decline since the 1970s, as more people went abroad for their yearly vacation; it has suffered a deepening sense of isolation, as railways and cruise lines closed; and it has witnessed a decline in investment which saw many of the grand Edwardian and Victorian houses and seaside hotels converted into cheap flats and bed sits as their upkeep became harder to afford. The central ward of the town is, according to the Indices of Deprivation 2004, among one of the 10% most deprived places in England and has one of the highest levels of non-decent housing in Devon. Since 2005 mandatory HMO licensing has been enforced by North Devon District Council (NDDC), and in conjunction with this, a Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder, a key programme of NR, has been established in Ilfracombe in a strategic effort to regenerate the town. From interviews with key strategic and ground level officers from NDDC during the fieldwork phase of doctoral research it became apparent that the implementation of HMO licensing- and consequentially raising the standards of accommodation in Ilfracombe- is challenging to enforce and the process of prosecuting unlicensed landlords can led to difficulties. Interviews with tenants of HMOs has also brought to the fore the difficulties with HMO licensing- which included the fear of being evicted and an increased rent during the process of improvement and repair. For many tenants, fear of eviction as improvement notices are issued, is fierce and far from paranoid. Of the landlords interviewed during the research most stated they would wait for tenants to leave the property or warrant eviction before carrying out repairs. This leaves some vulnerable tenants- who make-up a large proportion of the coastal HMO population- in a situation where they risk homelessness. However in a bid to improve services and deliver neighbourhood renewal the Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder ‘Transform’ was developed and deployed to work across Ilfracombe and surrounding villages. Transform initiatives include a Social Prescribing Service, Healthier Homes Advisors and number of other services, including a One-Stop-Shop with council, community and voluntary services under one roof. Each service has supported tenants of HMOs in varying ways, including giving advice, working closely with NDDCs Environmental Health Officers to improve housing conditions and, in some cases, mediating with landlords. Additionally, Transform has also sought to improve key aspects of life, highlighted by the House of Commons Coastal Town Report. Schemes include Young Advisors, Street Pastors, Neighbourhood Wardens, job and skills training as well as work with various charities which support the mental and physical needs of many vulnerable HMO tenants on a daily basis. On a practical level, NDDC has established a firm basis for improvement of HMOs, issuing more improvement notices and offering support through grant and loans schemes, than ever before. Furthermore the Transform Pathfinder and its partners are additionally supporting tenants using a number of schemes, some mentioned above. The partnership of the two policies is far from perfect but does offer one solution to improve housing conditions for vulnerable tenants whilst supporting the complex social, physical and economic needs of some individuals. So, whilst no policy has been employed by central government to target the deprivation found in some coastal towns, both the Housing Act 2004 and Neighbourhood Renewal could work together to combat the problems found in many coastal towns, and perhaps other disadvantaged communities across the country.
Kim Ward, PhD Student
Department of Geography, University of Exeter
References
Beatty C and Fothergill S (2004) Economic change and the Labour Market in Britain’s Seaside Towns. Regional Studies 38 (5) 461 – 480
House of Commons Report (2006) Communities and Local Government Committee: Coastal Towns. Second Report of Session 2006-2007.
The British government currently has no direct policy targeted specifically at coastal towns which may be due in part to their considerable variability in size and characteristics. It has been noted over recent years that Britain’s seaside towns have become a ‘problem area’, yet little research into the depth, causes, and consequences of these ‘problems’ has taken place (for some discussion see Beatty and Fothergill 2004) . Despite this apparent lack of political direction and academic research, the indices of deprivation (2007) show that many coastal areas suffer from high levels of deprivation, in some cases, comparable to those found in our inner cities.
In 2006 the House of Commons Coastal Town Report concluded to central government that coastal towns in England do in fact share some common features. Such features include physical and social isolation of individuals and populations, seasonal employment/low wage /skilled jobs, dependence on a single industry and outward migration of young people compared to an in-ward migration of older people. Also highlighted in this report was the ‘high incidence of poor housing conditions and a high proportion of privately rented homes found in coastal town’s (House of Commons 2006 p9). Particular reference is made to Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs). A HMO is a building in which more than one household shares an amenity, a converted building which does not contain entirely self contained flats and is occupied by more than one household. The House of Commons report makes a connection between vulnerable transient populations and the high levels of HMOs in seaside towns. These vulnerable populations, i.e. people “who are unable to meet their own everyday needs owing to a physical or mental health condition or who are vulnerable because of their situation, such as homelessness”, may be looking for cheap, easily obtainable accommodation (House of Commons 2006, p18). In some coastal towns this has led to the marginalization of poor residents into the same houses, streets and neighbourhoods, creating, in some coastal towns across the country, what could be referred to as ‘seaside slums’. Although no policy has been developed or established by the government to combat the characteristic problems of some coastal towns, a number of more broad polices have been put into effect including the Housing Act 2004, which introduced a mandatory licensing scheme for HMOs in an attempt to raise housing conditions and New Labour’s commitment to Neighbourhood Renewal (NR) which aims to improve the quality of life of those living in the most deprived neighbourhoods. The rest of this paper shall give a brief evaluation of each policy at work in the coastal town of Ilfracombe.
The author has been conducting research in the town of Ilfracombe, situated on the North Devon coast in the South West of England. Ilfracombe has suffered from economic decline since the 1970s, as more people went abroad for their yearly vacation; it has suffered a deepening sense of isolation, as railways and cruise lines closed; and it has witnessed a decline in investment which saw many of the grand Edwardian and Victorian houses and seaside hotels converted into cheap flats and bed sits as their upkeep became harder to afford. The central ward of the town is, according to the Indices of Deprivation 2004, among one of the 10% most deprived places in England and has one of the highest levels of non-decent housing in Devon. Since 2005 mandatory HMO licensing has been enforced by North Devon District Council (NDDC), and in conjunction with this, a Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder, a key programme of NR, has been established in Ilfracombe in a strategic effort to regenerate the town. From interviews with key strategic and ground level officers from NDDC during the fieldwork phase of doctoral research it became apparent that the implementation of HMO licensing- and consequentially raising the standards of accommodation in Ilfracombe- is challenging to enforce and the process of prosecuting unlicensed landlords can led to difficulties. Interviews with tenants of HMOs has also brought to the fore the difficulties with HMO licensing- which included the fear of being evicted and an increased rent during the process of improvement and repair. For many tenants, fear of eviction as improvement notices are issued, is fierce and far from paranoid. Of the landlords interviewed during the research most stated they would wait for tenants to leave the property or warrant eviction before carrying out repairs. This leaves some vulnerable tenants- who make-up a large proportion of the coastal HMO population- in a situation where they risk homelessness. However in a bid to improve services and deliver neighbourhood renewal the Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder ‘Transform’ was developed and deployed to work across Ilfracombe and surrounding villages. Transform initiatives include a Social Prescribing Service, Healthier Homes Advisors and number of other services, including a One-Stop-Shop with council, community and voluntary services under one roof. Each service has supported tenants of HMOs in varying ways, including giving advice, working closely with NDDCs Environmental Health Officers to improve housing conditions and, in some cases, mediating with landlords. Additionally, Transform has also sought to improve key aspects of life, highlighted by the House of Commons Coastal Town Report. Schemes include Young Advisors, Street Pastors, Neighbourhood Wardens, job and skills training as well as work with various charities which support the mental and physical needs of many vulnerable HMO tenants on a daily basis. On a practical level, NDDC has established a firm basis for improvement of HMOs, issuing more improvement notices and offering support through grant and loans schemes, than ever before. Furthermore the Transform Pathfinder and its partners are additionally supporting tenants using a number of schemes, some mentioned above. The partnership of the two policies is far from perfect but does offer one solution to improve housing conditions for vulnerable tenants whilst supporting the complex social, physical and economic needs of some individuals. So, whilst no policy has been employed by central government to target the deprivation found in some coastal towns, both the Housing Act 2004 and Neighbourhood Renewal could work together to combat the problems found in many coastal towns, and perhaps other disadvantaged communities across the country.
Kim Ward, PhD Student
Department of Geography, University of Exeter
References
Beatty C and Fothergill S (2004) Economic change and the Labour Market in Britain’s Seaside Towns. Regional Studies 38 (5) 461 – 480
House of Commons Report (2006) Communities and Local Government Committee: Coastal Towns. Second Report of Session 2006-2007.
Monday, 7 September 2009
NEWS FROM CCHPR
Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning research has recently been commissioned by Communities and Local Government to evaluate the Enhanced Housing Options Trailblazers. This project, which will run over the next two years will evaluate the implementation, operation and success of the 42 Trailblazers programmes.
The Enhanced Housing Options Trailblazers are being run by CLG with support from the DWP. They aim to develop innovative approaches to delivering housing options/advice services, by offering housing advice to people with low and medium housing need as well as those with acute need, and also by linking housing advice to wider advice about a range of issues such as training and employment, financial management, and access to benefits. There is also a focus on making better use of existing social housing stock, and greater use of the private rented sector.
The evaluation is being lead by CCHPR, with involvement from Birmingham University (Centre for Urban and Regional Analysis) and Shared Intelligence.
The Enhanced Housing Options Trailblazers are being run by CLG with support from the DWP. They aim to develop innovative approaches to delivering housing options/advice services, by offering housing advice to people with low and medium housing need as well as those with acute need, and also by linking housing advice to wider advice about a range of issues such as training and employment, financial management, and access to benefits. There is also a focus on making better use of existing social housing stock, and greater use of the private rented sector.
The evaluation is being lead by CCHPR, with involvement from Birmingham University (Centre for Urban and Regional Analysis) and Shared Intelligence.
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
NEWS FROM PLANNING DEPARTMENT, QUB
New research funding
Dr Michael Murray has won funding from the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland, to establish a cross-border research network that will explore healthy ageing in rural communities. The network will draw on interdisciplinary expertise in the areas of gerontology, spatial planning, rural geography, economics, social care, and public health. The other partners are the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology and the Geography Department at the National University of Ireland Galway, The Centre for Clinical and Population Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, and the Rural Community Network.
Dr Michael Murray has won funding from the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland, to establish a cross-border research network that will explore healthy ageing in rural communities. The network will draw on interdisciplinary expertise in the areas of gerontology, spatial planning, rural geography, economics, social care, and public health. The other partners are the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology and the Geography Department at the National University of Ireland Galway, The Centre for Clinical and Population Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, and the Rural Community Network.
NEWS FROM CRESR
A Process Evaluation of 'Celtic Against Drugs' and 'Rangers Positive Choices' Programmes
A team of researchers from CRESR and the HPPU at the University of Stirling have been commissioned by the Scottish Government to evaluate two government-funded education and diversionary projects for young people delivered by Celtic and Rangers football clubs. The schemes work with primary school age children from deprived neighbourhoods in Glasgow and combine football coaching and other activities with education about drugs, alcohol, health and diet, sectarianism and racism. The evaluation will assess the management, monitoring, referral and delivery of the two projects and their initial outcomes. A final report will be produced in December 2009.
For information about this study please contact John Flint: j.f.flint@shu.ac.uk
A team of researchers from CRESR and the HPPU at the University of Stirling have been commissioned by the Scottish Government to evaluate two government-funded education and diversionary projects for young people delivered by Celtic and Rangers football clubs. The schemes work with primary school age children from deprived neighbourhoods in Glasgow and combine football coaching and other activities with education about drugs, alcohol, health and diet, sectarianism and racism. The evaluation will assess the management, monitoring, referral and delivery of the two projects and their initial outcomes. A final report will be produced in December 2009.
For information about this study please contact John Flint: j.f.flint@shu.ac.uk
Friday, 5 June 2009
NEWS FROM RESEARCH CENTRES
HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
Tackling Antisocial Behaviour: An Evaluation of Intensive Family Support Projects in Scotland
The report of a major research project led by Heriot-Watt University has just been published by the Scottish Government: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/272803/0081442.pdf
The research, managed by Professor Hal Pawson and undertaken in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, evaluated five ‘intensive family support projects’ established in various parts of Scotland. These schemes provide intensive help for ‘disruptive families’ at risk of eviction for anti-social behaviour. Their over-riding aim is to help prevent family breakup and/or homelessness which could result unless family problems are tackled and misconduct is consequently eliminated. The projects are at the cutting edge of Government policies to tackle antisocial behaviour and exemplify an official approach increasingly encompassing supportive as opposed to punitive responses.
The Impacts of Second Generation Stock Transfers in Urban Britain
After two decades of stock transfers council housing is a thing of the past in half of England’s local authorities. In England, a large proportion of post-1997 transfers have involved urban areas mainly in the Midlands and the North. In many of these localities newly-created housing associations have faced major challenges to address run-down estates, concentrated deprivation and sometimes a troubled history of community relations. In Scotland and Wales, local authority transfers only really began in 2003. However, in a number of the areas subsequently involved (e.g. Glasgow, Inverclyde), transfer housing associations have also taken on a highly problematic inheritance.
JRF-funded research on post-1997 ‘second generation’ stock transfers has recently been published at: http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/impacts-housing-stock-transfers-urban-britain The study, undertaken by Heriot-Watt University and Cardiff University focused mainly on ten case study transfers in England, Wales and Scotland. A major focus of the research was the controversial Glasgow stock transfer and the team’s case study report assessing Glasgow Housing Association’s first five years is also available at: http://www.sbe.hw.ac.uk/news%20images/GHA%20case%20study.pdf
Tackling Antisocial Behaviour: An Evaluation of Intensive Family Support Projects in Scotland
The report of a major research project led by Heriot-Watt University has just been published by the Scottish Government: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/272803/0081442.pdf
The research, managed by Professor Hal Pawson and undertaken in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, evaluated five ‘intensive family support projects’ established in various parts of Scotland. These schemes provide intensive help for ‘disruptive families’ at risk of eviction for anti-social behaviour. Their over-riding aim is to help prevent family breakup and/or homelessness which could result unless family problems are tackled and misconduct is consequently eliminated. The projects are at the cutting edge of Government policies to tackle antisocial behaviour and exemplify an official approach increasingly encompassing supportive as opposed to punitive responses.
The Impacts of Second Generation Stock Transfers in Urban Britain
After two decades of stock transfers council housing is a thing of the past in half of England’s local authorities. In England, a large proportion of post-1997 transfers have involved urban areas mainly in the Midlands and the North. In many of these localities newly-created housing associations have faced major challenges to address run-down estates, concentrated deprivation and sometimes a troubled history of community relations. In Scotland and Wales, local authority transfers only really began in 2003. However, in a number of the areas subsequently involved (e.g. Glasgow, Inverclyde), transfer housing associations have also taken on a highly problematic inheritance.
JRF-funded research on post-1997 ‘second generation’ stock transfers has recently been published at: http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/impacts-housing-stock-transfers-urban-britain The study, undertaken by Heriot-Watt University and Cardiff University focused mainly on ten case study transfers in England, Wales and Scotland. A major focus of the research was the controversial Glasgow stock transfer and the team’s case study report assessing Glasgow Housing Association’s first five years is also available at: http://www.sbe.hw.ac.uk/news%20images/GHA%20case%20study.pdf
Monday, 6 October 2008
Occupancy Controls in Rural Housing
Madhu Satsangi and Joe Crawford (Stirling University) have been commissioned by the Scottish Government to review the use of occupancy controls in rural housing. The work is looking at experience in the different nations and territories of the UK and in the Nordic countries. You can find out more by emailing Madhu Satsangi.
North Derbyshire and Bassetlaw Housing Market Area
Professor Ian Cole and Dr Stephen Green (CRESR, Sheffield Hallam University) have been appointed to work with the four local councils of the North Derbyshire and Bassetlaw Housing Market Area (HMA) to develop a Joint Housing Strategy. The HMA is a partnership between Bassetlaw, Bolsover, Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire who are working together to develop common and mutually beneficial housing strategies and initiatives. CRESR’s involvement includes advising on partnership and governance structures, aligning the strategy with other regional and local strategies, analysing the evidence-base and enhancing it with primary research. Ian and Stephen will produce a draft strategy by January 2009, which will then undergo a period of consultation. For further information about this project, please contact Ian Cole or Stephen Green, tel: 0114 225 3073.
Monitoring Housing Market Trends (West Yorkshire Housing Partnership)
Town and Regional Planning (University of Sheffield) in partnership with CRESR at Sheffield Hallam University have recently completed a short commission to establish a housing market monitoring framework for the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership. Drawing on up to date small area data sources, the framework has developed a number of Key Market Indicators capable of tracking change in West Yorkshire’s housing markets. The project was completed by Ed Ferrari (Sheffield) and Tony Gore (Sheffield Hallam). Contact: Ed Ferrari, e.t.ferrari@sheffield.ac.uk
A New ESRC Project Led by Queens University, Belfast
Funding has been received from the ESRC (£220,000) for a two year project entitled: “The Retirement Transition and the Celtic Fringe: Mobility Trends and Migrant and Rural Community Well-being” (RES-062-23-1358). Led by Dr Aileen Stockdale, the project seeks evidence of a retirement transition affecting the mobility patterns of the 50-64 year old age group within the UK’s Celtic fringe. The retirement transition concept refers to the behavioural changes affecting pre-retirement age groups, and assumes that the expectation of retirement acts as a catalyst for change, including a change of residence. Such migration is commonly associated with peripheral and scenically attractive areas. Accordingly, the project focuses on rural areas of Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland. The methodology involves four main stages: an analysis of Census datasets to explore the migration patterns of the 50-64 age cohort; a household survey and migrant interviews; a postal survey of non-movers. This will focus on the migrants’ areas of origin and seeks to determine reasons for not moving (by those age 50-64 years); and finally, interviews with local service providers and local/national policy-makers. A series of stakeholder seminars will also be arranged.
Empowering Glasgow’s Tenants through Community Ownership: a tenants’ perspective
Kim McKee (University of Glasgow) has been awarded a Small Grant (£1k) by the British Academy, to research tenant empowerment in the context of the whole-stock transfer in Glasgow. Building upon her previous doctoral research, this project will use focus group research to explore the perspective of ‘lay’ tenants. In particular, whether they feel they have been ‘empowered’ by the transfer to date; their attitudes about community empowerment and the priority they attach to it; and their support of community ownership, a goal which is to be achieved in Glasgow through further Second Stage Transfers of the housing stock. For further information contact Kim McKee: kim.mckee@ges.gla.ac.uk.
Thursday, 17 July 2008
The Housing Needs of those with Complex Needs
A team from CRESR, Sheffield Hallam University has been commissioned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council to explore the housing needs of people with complex needs. The study will focus on three groups: drug/alcohol users, women in street prostitution and offenders. This is a qualitative study which will be carried out over a 12 month period, commencing in June 2008. For further information contact Rionach Casey: 0044 114 2252987, r.casey@shu.ac.uk or Kesia Reeve: 0044 114 2253073, k.reeve@shu.ac.uk
The Irish in Sheffield: Needs, Aspirations and Identity
The report to emerge from the study of the Irish population in Sheffield undertaken by CRESR, Sheffield Hallam University was published in June. The qualitative study, which was conducted by Rionach Casey and John Flint was commissioned by the Federation of Irish Societies and examines the experiences of the Irish community in Sheffield with specific reference to their health, housing, welfare, aspirations and identity.
The report begins by identifying the key characteristics of the Irish population in Sheffield and outlines how it has changed in recent years. It analyses the experiences and perceptions of being Irish within the context of a dispersed and small Irish population in the city. The study then explores Irish identities and culture amongst the first, second and third generation. While the report documents the persistence of anti-Irish racism, it also highlights the importance of cultural and sporting activities which extend beyond the Irish community, affording opportunities for social cohesion. A copy of the report can be downloaded from the CRESR website.
The report begins by identifying the key characteristics of the Irish population in Sheffield and outlines how it has changed in recent years. It analyses the experiences and perceptions of being Irish within the context of a dispersed and small Irish population in the city. The study then explores Irish identities and culture amongst the first, second and third generation. While the report documents the persistence of anti-Irish racism, it also highlights the importance of cultural and sporting activities which extend beyond the Irish community, affording opportunities for social cohesion. A copy of the report can be downloaded from the CRESR website.
The Views and Experiences of Private Sector Landlords in Scotland
A team of researchers at University of Sheffield (Prof. Tony Crook and Dr. Ed Ferrari) and Oxford University (Prof. Peter Kemp) have recently been awarded a contract by the Scottish Government to undertake a large scale survey of private landlords. This will build on previous work on the private rented sector in Scotland and England by Crook and Kemp and will particularly explore views on the new regulatory regime in place in Scotland. The study will draw on data collected from a sample of landlords and their property holdings in half of Scotland's local authority areas. For more information please contact Ed Ferrari: e.t.ferrari@sheffield.ac.uk
Monday, 2 June 2008
EPSRC Consortium on Socio-economics of Climate Change
A major new research consortium has been launched looking at the local impacts of climate change. Funded by a £1.6m EPSRC grant to explore Community Resilience to Extreme Weather, the CREW research team will span fourteen UK universities and draw together a wide spectrum of academic disciplines including geography, climatology, engineering, economics, statistics, sociology, and earth sciences. The Extreme Weather Event Socio-Economic Model (EWESEM) work-stream will be overseen by Professor Gwilym Pryce from the Department of Urban Studies, University of Glasgow, and will develop and integrate a suite of statistical models that quantify and simulate the local housing market effects of current and future extreme weather events. The EWESEM research will have a particular focus on the neighbourhood and house price impacts of climate change and flood risk.
Contact Gwilym Pryce for more details.
Contact Gwilym Pryce for more details.
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