Reference | Group covered | 'Positive' or 'negative' outcomes traced | Sample size | Tracking period | Number of re-contacts | Timing of re-contacts | Tracking methods/methods for locating sample | Retention/ response rates |
1. Fitzpatrick, S. (2000) Young Homeless People. Basingstoke: Macmillan. | Young homeless people, mainly single. Hidden as well as visible groups. | Both | 25 | 1 year | 1 | After 1 year | Used agency and family/friend informants. Gathered second-hand information from these contacts. Spent time networking in neighbourhood. Did not use incentives. Sent questionnaire if unsuccessful in securing interview. | Out of total of 25, 9 were re-interviewed and questionnaire response was received from 2. Second-hand information was received about another 11. No refusals. |
2. Rosengard, A., Laing, I., Jackson, A.A. & Jones, N. (2002) Routes out of Homelessness. Edinburgh: The Scottish Executive. | A range of homeless households - all age groups and household types. | Positive only - this was a study of routes out of homelessness | 27 | No tracking - fully retrospective study with ex-homeless people 'settled' in accommodation for at least 6 months. | N/a | N/a | Contacted ex-homeless sample through agencies. No details given of contact process | N/a |
3. Bennett, S. (1990) Lochgelly - Ten Years On. Edinburgh: Scottish Council for Single Homeless. | Single homeless men. All ex-hostel residents. | Both | 40 | No tracking - fully retrospective study of ex-residents of a hostel 10 years after closure. | N/a | N/a | Not detailed. But does note that attempts to trace residents carried on for 9 months. Local housing and social work agencies were 'excellent' sources of contact. | 10 (out of 40) ex-residents were interviewed. Contact was made with 15, but 3 were judged incapable of interview and 2 refused. 19 of the sample were dead. The whereabouts of 6 was unknown. |
4. Randall, G. & Brown, S. (1996) From Street to Home: An Evaluation of Phase 2 of the Rough Sleepers Initiative. London: HMSO. | Ex-homeless people rehoused through RSI-2. Mainly single men. | Positive - this part of the study looked at those who had sustained housing association accommodation. | 144 | No tracking - this was a fully retrospective study of ex-homeless people. | N/a | N/a | RSI Clearing House records provided the addresses of the ex-homeless people rehoused. The relevant housing associations confirmed whether person still resident. | 100 interviews were achieved (a response rate of 69%). Interviewers were unable to interview 28 tenants after four visits, 12 people refused, and 4 were not interviewed for other reasons. |
5. Harocopos, A. et al. (forthcoming) A Follow-up Study of Crack Users in London. | Chaotic crack users. | Both | 100 | 18 months | 5 | After 1, 4, 8, 13 and 18 months. | Recruited sample from drug crisis centre and maintained presence there for 12 months. Mainly used family/friend informants. Also tracked through treatment agencies and prison. Got signed consent form. Used 20 incentive for each interview; 40 for final interview. | 72 out of 100 completed final interview (94, 88 and 84 completed interviews at 1, 4 and 8 months respectively) |
6. Crane, M. (forthcoming) Resettling Older Homeless People: A Longitudinal Study of Outcomes. | Older homeless people rehoused into permanent accommodation. | Both | 64 | 2 years | Between 3 and 7 | Every 3 or 6 months depending on whether 'settled' | Interviewed at home. Appointment letters were sent out one week before the visit, and most interviewees were at home. Two people who didn't want to be interviewed agreed to complete postal questionnaires that were sent to them every 6 months. | Contact was maintained with 62 (97%) for 2 years or until tenancy ended through eviction, abandonment or death. 10 of the 17 people whose tenancies had failed were traced and interviewed. They were contacted mainly through agencies and informal enquiries with other homeless people, but the researcher also searched the streets for some respondents. |
7. Stockley, D., Canter, D. & Bishopp, D. (1993) Young People on the Move. Guildford: Psychology Department, University of Surrey. | Young people at risk of homelessness | Both | 72 | 1 year | 1 | After 1 year | Used agencies and informal networking to track. Obtained 'minimum' information from these sources on young people whom they didn't manage to re-interview/get a questionnaire response from. | Unsure |
8. Craig, T.K.J., Hodson, S., Woodward, S. & Richardson, S. (1996) Off To a Bad Start: A Longitudinal Study of Homeless Young People in London. London: The Mental Health Foundation. | Young people. | Both | 161 | 1 year | 1 | After 1 year | Tracking methods were continuous and comprehensive, with researchers working closely with homelessness agencies. Sources included: a continuous log of contacts made by respondents to participating homelessness agencies; agency record cards; business cards given to respondents; networking with other young people; chance encounters; letters forwarded by probation and social services; and GP lists. The last two methods were less productive than the others. | Successfully re-interviewed 107 out of 161 young people 1 year later (67% retention rate). Received information about a further 30 (19% of sample) and 2 had died. Only 22 young people (13% of sample) were not traced. |
9. O'Callaghan, B. and Dominian, L. with Evans, A.. Dix, J., Smith, R, Williams, P. & Zimmeck, M. (1996) Study of Homeless Applicants. London: Department of the Environment. | Homeless applicants to local authorities - all household types and age groups were included. | Both | 2,474 applicants were included in the study. A first interview was secured with 1497 applicants, and 1,302 were eligible for a second interview. | Between 11 and 18 months for tracking through LA records. Variable for survey interviews- see 'timing of re-contacts' | 1 | Second interviews were triggered by one of the following events.
1. Permanent rehousing
2. Withdrawal/ rejection of application
3. End of survey period (March 1994) if applicant still awaiting LA decision/ rehousing | There were two elements. 1. Tracking through administrative records using pro formas. This was reported to be an extremely difficult and time-consuming exercise. 2. Two structured interviews with applicants. A range of tracking methods were used including: inquiries with neighbours; LA records; friend/relative contacts; change of address postcards; and forwarding letters through local housing and advice agencies. The last two methods were much less productive than the others. | Out of 1,302 applicants eligible for second interview, 879 interviews were obtained (a retention rate of 68%). The majority of non-response was due to movement (52%) or incomplete addresses (4%), rather than refusal (14%) or non-contact (29%). |