A challenge to distorting tendencies: understanding homelessness through administrative data linkage

Browne Gott, Hannah 2024. A challenge to distorting tendencies: understanding homelessness through administrative data linkage. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This thesis contributes to the ongoing development of administrative data linkage for the study of homelessness in the United Kingdom (UK), by focusing on how these novel methods can alter our understanding of homelessness; particularly homeless people’s interactions with the police and healthcare services. Existing evidence suggests that people experiencing homelessness have poorer health, more emergency healthcare interactions, are more likely to be the victims of crime and that there is bi-directional association between imprisonment and homelessness. However, the quantitative evidence base is dominated by studies whose participants are shelterless, rough sleeping, or in low threshold services known to be used predominantly by more excluded people experiencing homelessness. O’Sullivan et al. (2020) argue that the way homelessness is depicted in much of the evidence obscures the heterogeneity of homelessness. This thesis will address this gap by analysing linked administrative data on homelessness, health and police interactions. A data-led definition of homelessness is used, rather than drawing on a person’s legal homelessness status, homelessness is defined as contact with homelessness services at any point during the study period. By linking administrative data from statutory homelessness services, this thesis will draw on wider definitions of homelessness, build the evidence base and challenge prevailing narratives. This thesis develops a theoretical framework based on Gowan’s (2010) three talks: sick talk, sin talk and system talk, adding to this using Johnson et al’s (2018) typology of social control of people experiencing homelessness. My theoretical framework shows the links between different forms of social control and the talks, demonstrating the complexity of their interaction. Being one of the first studies in Wales to link statutory homelessness data to healthcare data, and the first study in the UK to link to police data, this thesis contributes novel insights into the future use of data linkage in the field of homelessness research in the UK. It concludes that administrative data have a unique role in supporting our understanding of homelessness, particularly in understanding the diversity of experiences and interactions included under the umbrella term of ‘homelessness’. The findings challenge the predominance of sin and sick talk and argue for a greater consideration of system talk, which has the potential to support structural change to aid the reduction of homelessness. It also develops a new talk – safety talk – which conceptualizes the role of the police, and their ability to use force, on the safety of people who have experienced homelessness.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Geography and Planning (GEOPL)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Homelessness, administrative data, housing, emergency health, Wales, police, crime
Funders:	ESRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	28 May 2025
Last Modified:	28 May 2025 08:51
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/178551

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