Pathways through homelessness: towards a dynamic analysis

The notion of pathways through homelessness is central to a full understanding of the nature of homelessness and the possibilities for alleviating homelessness. That is to say, consideration needs to be given to the processes and dynamics at work in relation to the housing careers and life trajectories of individuals and households who experience homelessness at some point in their lives. These notions of process and dynamics have become central to contemporary analysis of many social issues and to the whole policy agenda associated with social exclusion/inclusion in Britain and much of Western Europe. To date, however, there has been only limited research which has examined homelessness as a dynamic process concerned with how people do or do not gain access to suitable, affordable housing – and how the housing process interacts with other socio-economic processes. This paper considers whether discrete pathways through homelessness can be identified in relation to key characteristics such as gender, age, race, household type and life experience. The policy implications and practical options for intervention arising from such an analysis are also considered. It is argued that a dynamic, ‘pathways’ approach to researching homelessness can aid understanding of the complexity of the economic and social processes which create and sustain homelessness. Within the context of the United Kingdom, the approach also raises questions about the effectiveness of policy responses. Further, the paper also argues that appropriate research methods are fundamental to a dynamic analysis of homelessness and that contemporary policy research has often lacked a dynamic approach. The paper concludes by setting out a framework whereby a more dynamic approach to homelessness research could help to provide a better understanding of pathways through homelessness and lead to more effective policy interventions.