Designing out Homelessness
The WMCA Homelessness Taskforce’s strategic objective is to design out homelessness, in all its forms, and to promote sustainable and meaningful INclusion for all citizens.
The Taskforce considers that this ambitious objective can only be achieved through a shared cross-sectoral approach to tackling structural inequalities focussing on how service systems respond to people’s needs and how service systems interrelate with each other.
Designing out Homelessness Resources
Universal Prevention
The determinants of homelessness are a complex mix of both personal and wider structural factors. The evidence suggests that homelessness, or the risk of homelessness, rarely if ever comes out of the blue. Central to designing out homelessness, 'Universal Prevention' is population-wide action that ensures all people can access the essentials needed to live a safe, healthy and dignified life.
Universal Prevention: Understanding and Implementing Universal Prevention is a collaborative paper co-authored by researchers from Heriot-Watt University and Cardiff University, alongside the West Midlands Combined Authority. It sets out the case for re-thinking how homelessness is prevented, increasing focus on making mainstream systems work effectively for everyone and help people remain securely included in society
The paper identifies four critical protective factors that dramatically reduce the risk of homelessness:
- A truly affordable, safe and secure home
- A sufficient, secure and sustained income
- Good health and access to effective care when a person’s health is compromised
- Being in safe and mutually supportive relationships and having strong social networks
The paper also places universal prevention within a wider prevention framework, distinguishing it from targeted, crisis and emergency responses. While specialist homelessness services remain vital, the authors argue that universal prevention places shared responsibility across housing, health, welfare, education, policing, and economic systems.