Final Evaluation of the Rough Sleepers Initiative

DescriptionThis evaluation assesses the extent to which programme funding has been used effectively to help eliminate the need for rough sleeping in Scotland & the effectiveness of current monitoring systems
ISBN0-7559-3948-4
Official Print Publication Date
Website Publication DateMarch 21, 2005

Listen

Social Research logo

2005

FINAL EVALUATION OF THE ROUGH SLEEPERS INITIATIVE

Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Nicholas Pleace and Mark Bevan
The Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York

ISBN 0 7559 3948 4

This document is also available in pdf format (816k)

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendations

CHAPTER 1: POLICY BACKGROUND AND THE OBJECTIVES OF THE EVALUATION
Introduction
Background

A short history of the programme
Eliminating the need to sleep rough
The integration of RSI within strategic responses to all forms of homelessness
Findings of the interim evaluation
The Aims and objectives of this evaluation
Methods

A critical assessment of research and monitoring information on rough sleeping in Scotland
The national telephone survey
Eight in-depth case studies
Structure of the report

CHAPTER 2: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF RESEARCH AND MONITORING INFORMATION ON ROUGH SLEEPING
Introduction
Existing research on people sleeping rough

A review of studies of people sleeping rough
A critical assessment of the existing research base
Existing statistical measures of rough sleeping and service delivery in scotland
The George street Research monitoring of the target to end the need to sleep rough in Scotland by 2003

Summary of methodology
Summary of findings of the George Street Research Monitoring
The GSR research: a critical assessment
National rough sleeping initiative core data collected by Glasgow Homelessness Network
Summary of methodology
Summary of findings
The GHN Monitoring: a critical assessment
HL1 data on rough sleeping
Summary of methodology
Summary of findings
HL1: a critical assessment
Gaps in information

CHAPTER 3: THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RSI FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND NATIONAL LEVEL AGENCIES
Introduction
Perspectives on the Development and objectives of the RSI

The development of the programme
The objectives of the programme
The use of RSI funding
The uses to which RSI funds were put
Views on the effectiveness of RSI
New and expanded service provision
Joint Working and Co-ordination
Standards and performance
Raising awareness and promoting cultural change
Wider Cultural and Policy Change
The Impact of RSI on Rough Sleeping
The overall impact
Difficulties in reaching some groups of people sleeping rough
Contextual factors and other issues adversely affecting rough sleeping levels in some areas
The future of RSI

CHAPTER 4: RSI FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SERVICE PROVIDERS
Introduction
The services that participated in the fieldwork
Service providers' perceptions of the needs of people sleeping rough

The needs of people sleeping rough
Service effectiveness: the views of service providers
The factors influencing success
The overall success of services
The effectiveness of rsi: the views of service providers
The future of RSI

CHAPTER 5: SERVICE USERS
Introduction
Service effectiveness
Services in receipt of RSI funding
Changes
Unmet needs and gaps in services
Overall findings

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONS
Introduction
RSI effectiveness and the need to sleep rough in Scotland

The effectiveness of RSI
The limitations of RSI
Ending the need to sleep rough
The mainstreaming of RSI services
Monitoring information on rough sleeping and RSI services

The GSR Monitoring of the need to sleep rough
GHN National Rough Sleeping Initiative Core Data
Progress since the interim evaluation
The future of RSI
Overall conclusions
Recommendations

The future of the programme
The monitoring of rough sleeping and rough sleeper services

REFERENCES

APPENDIX ONE: LIST OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE FIELDWORK

APPENDIX TWO: TOPIC GUIDE FOR THE TELEPHONE AND FACE TO FACE INTERVIEWS WITH NATIONAL LEVEL AND LOCAL AUTHORITY RESPONDENTS

APPENDIX THREE: TOPIC GUIDE FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS

APPENDIX FOUR: TOPIC GUIDE FOR SERVICE USERS

List of tables and figures

Figure 2.1: Total number of individuals sleeping rough reported by projects participating in the GSR monitoring between May 2001 and October 2003
Figure 2.2: Reported experience of sleeping rough reported by respondents to the GSR monitoring during October 2003
Figure 2.3: Total number of new service users reported by services to GHN monitoring over the period July 2000 to March 2004
Figure 2.4: Total number of new service users with any history of sleeping rough reported by services to GHN monitoring
Figure 2.5: Total number of new service users currently sleeping rough reported by services to GHN monitoring over the period July 2000 to March 2004
Figure 2.6: Total number of service users reported by services participating in the GHN monitoring by local authority area from 1st July 2000 to 31st March 2004
Figure 2.7: Total number of service users coming from outside the local authority area where projects were located
Figure 2.8: Percentage of service users coming from outside the local authority area where projects were located
Figure 2.9: Where people who had last lived outside Edinburgh had come from (by percentage of those who had lived outside Edinburgh)
Figure 2.10: Percentage of individuals who reported any history of sleeping rough by LA area
Figure 2.11: Total reported project activity by local authority
Figure 2.12: Percentage of service users / clients reporting selected characteristics by whether their case was open or closed
Figure 2.13: Positive outcomes recorded by projects
Table 2.1 Households with any experience of rough sleeping in the last three months by household type
Figure 2.14 Total households reporting recent experience of sleeping rough by month
Figure 2.15: Total households reporting recent experience of sleeping rough by local authority area

Acknowledgements

The Centre for Housing Policy would like to thank all those interviewees who made their time available to participate in the research. We are particularly grateful to those agencies providing services to people sleeping rough which made themselves available as case studies for the research and to the people using those services who gave up their time to take part in focus groups. The research team would also like to give special thanks to Glasgow Homeless Network for making their monitoring dataset available for the purposes of this evaluation.

Suzanne Fitzpatrick
Nicholas Pleace
Mark Bevan

The views expressed in this report are those of the researcher and
do not necessarily represent those of the Department or Scottish Ministers.

Further copies of this report are available priced £5.00. Cheques should be made payable to Blackwell's Bookshop and addressed to:

Blackwell's Bookshop
53 South Bridge
Edinburgh
EH1 1YS

Telephone orders and enquiries
0131 622 8283 or
0131 622 8258
Fax orders
0131 557 8149
Email orders
business.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk

Page updated: Thursday, March 24, 2005