Supporting homelessness: Co-development of a Peer-led evaluation of a novel supported accommodation model

This project aims to co-develop a peer-led evaluation of a novel supported accommodation model introduced by Dundalk Simon Community for clients. In 2021 an alternative model of accommodation was piloted.  The model differed from usual accommodation offerings as this was a four-bedded home for four people, keyworker support was during daytime only, clients engaged in activities for development including training, employment, personal development, community work schemes, and volunteering in the community and it helped to build confidence in returning to independent living. 

This project aims to co-develop a peer-led evaluation to understand the experiences of previous residents, and all involved in the development of the alternative model, to inform the development of a  supported housing programme.  The research will be conducted by individuals with a lived experiences of homelessness in partnership with Dundalk Simon and University College Dublin (UCD) and provides an opportunity learn from a marginalised and seldom heard group.  

The planning of this research is embedded in the ethos of the patient and public involvement (PPI) and co-design.  Clients (previous residents from a low support house) are members of the planning group. They provided a roadmap for this research idea sharing personal and wider societal impact of living in a ‘home’ environment. They noted transformative experiences in comparison with previous experiences (such as living in hostels) as the only option with managing the chaos, stressful sleeping facilities and lack of opportunities for independent living including to plan and learn to cook for oneself and others.

This project will use engaged participatory discovery research methods. A project working group made up of applicants and peer researchers from Dundalk Simon will co-develop the project.

This research project is led by Dundalk Simon. This is an opportunity for engaged research with a community that has not previously been involved in PPI research and represents seldom heard voices, specifically from younger aged clients who are homeless and living in rural areas (Dundalk and Drogheda). Usually, the perspective and voices heard in relation to housing and homelessness are Dublin centric.

The research will be co-developed and peer-led with individuals with lived experience of homelessness, mainly experiencing services of Dundalk Simon Community. Having lived in larger homeless hostel environment (the usual), they will have a unique perspective to bring when designing the study.
The intention is that peer researchers will develop the questions that will lead structured interviews based on their own observations and experiences and co-facilitate a workshop to present data from the study to provide recommendations that will have considerably more influence on service development, due to the strength that lies in their voice and experiences. This process is supported by Dundalk Simon and UCD co-applicants.  

Team: Trina Harpur (Dundalk Simon Community), Assoc. Prof Kate Frazer (UCD), Prof Thilo Kroll (UCD), Katie Carrigan (Dundalk Simon Community),   Christopher Duffy (Dundalk Simon Community), and Peer researchers .