Joan Smith

Director, Centre for Housing and Community Research

+44 (0)20 7133 5069

joan.smith@londonmet.ac.uk

Research Interests and Expertise

Homelessness, deprivation and children/young people
The experience of social exclusion and processes of inclusion of the marginalised and disadvantaged
Foyer provision for young people

Dr Joan Smith is Reader in Social Research and Head of the Centre for Housing and Community Research. Her particular research interests are in homelessness, social deprivation and exclusion, and in regeneration exploring issues of age, gender and ethnic affiliation in relation to these areas. She is currently engaged in two long-term studies that build on previous work: (a) perceptions of risk of homelessness among young people and parents of young people and (b) a follow-up study of ex-foyer residents from 10 foyers across the UK.

She is a partner in a European Commission funded research network interrogating appropriate methodologies for researching homeless populations. She has a particular interest in studies that inform practice and has also undertaken surveys of need on Sure Start estates, problem estates, New Deal Community areas, and satisfaction surveys among service users.

Current/ recent projects and awards

2004-6 What is Homelessness? a study of the perceptions of risk of homelessness among young people 13-15 years and parents. Funded by the Big Lottery, grant holders Centrepoint (with Dr. Megan Ravenhill).
2003-6 What Happened Next? a national follow-up study of young people leaving ten foyers. Funded by the Housing Corporation, Diageo and the Countryside Agency (with Ms Oonagh Browne)
2003-5 Constructing Understandings of Homeless Populations European Thematic Research Network investigating appropriate methodologies for homeless research. Funded by the European Commission (with INED, France; Complutense University, Spain; MRI, Hungary; NIZW, Netherlands; SRI Denmark; Milan Polytechnic, Italy) at www.cuhp.org
2004 A satisfaction survey of service users of five foyers for East Potential, E15
2002 -3 An evaluation of 4 Northern Ireland foyers compared with 4 GB foyers. Department of Social Development, Northern Ireland Executive (to be published by NI Executive)
2002-3 An evaluation of 8 dispersed foyers, 4 single site foyers and 4 floating support schemes for the Foyer Federation UK, funded by the Gatsby Foundation (at www.foyer.net)
2002-3 A survey of homeless applicants for Herefordshire Homeless Strategy

Publications

Journal articles

2006 Housing, Homelessness, and Mental Health in GB, Int Journal of Mental Health, Vol. 34 (2) pp. 22-46
2003 'Gender and Housing Policy', in Somerville, P. and Springings, N., eds. Housing and Social Policy: Contemporary Themes and Critical Perspectives, London: Routledge: 143-171
1998 'Homelessness in the UK: A European Perspective' Habitat International
1998, Special Edition from the International Sociological Association World Congress on Housing, Washington 1997.
1998 'Not only street sleepers are homeless. Issues of gender, ethnicity and domestic status in researching youth homelessness' (with Gilford S) Youth and Policy

Book

2001 Pierson J and Smith J ed Rebuilding Community, 2001, Palgrave UK

Book chapters

2004 'Young people, Homelessness and Social Inclusion', in Barry, M. ed. Youth Policy and Social Inclusion: Critical Debates with Young people. London, Routledge: 161-182
2004 'Risk,Social Change and Strategies of Inclusion for Young Homeless
2004 'Housing, Gender and Social Policy' in Somerville P. and Spriging N. eds 'Housing and Policy' Routledge
2001 'Communitarianism and Gender in the New Urban Policy' in Pierson J and Smith J ed Rebuilding Community, 2001, Palgrave UK 1999 'Gender and Homelessness' in Clapham D and Hutson S ed Homelessness: Public Policies and Private Practice, 1999

Reports (Selected)

2004 An Evaluation of Northern Ireland Foyers NIHE/Department of Social Development
2003 Dispersed Foyers: delivering services through diversity. London Foyer Federation www.foyer.net/mpn/downloads/dispersed_foyers_full_study.pdf
2003 'Moving Out.. Moving On'. From Foyer Accommodation to Independent Living. For the YMCA, England and the Housing Corporation. February (with Claire Worley (external))
2003 Becoming homeless in a rural area: A report on the experience of homeless applicants in Herefordshire (Chapters 9 and 10 of Herefordshire Homeless Strategy).
2003 Who is at risk of homelessness in North Staffordshire: A study of young homeless people and their pasts. Funded by the North Staffordshire Connexions Service in conjunction with ARCH - North Staffs
2002 Crisis at Christmas - a study of the Crisis Christmas shelters - Crisis
2001 Moving Out; Moving On (with Worley C) funded by YMCA, England on behalf of the Housing Corporation published by YMCA
2001 Making Youth Homelessness Visible (with Ing P and Ing M) funded by Cotswolds District Council, Fosseway Housing Association and the Housing Corporation
2000 Local Partnerships and New Deal for Communities (with Pierson J and Worley C) Lipman Miliband Trust, London
2000 Hidden statistics: The other young people sleeping rough in London commissioned by Centrepoint, Published by Centrepoint, London 2000 A Towards a Youth Homeless Strategy for Birmingham (with Ing P and O'Sullivan A) Funded by St. Basils Centre together with a grant from the Housing Corporation, Birmingham City Council Housing Department and Birmingham Social Services. Published by Centre for Housing and Community Resarch, Staffordshire University.
2000 Routes In and Out of Homelessness: Informing a Youth Homeless Strategy for Birmingham Funded and published as above
1999 Moving on Up (with Grainger J) funded by Foyer Federation, published by Foyer Federation UK
1999 Taking Risks An analysis of the risks of homelessness for young people in London (with Bruegel I) funded by Safe in the City at www.safeinthecity.org
1998 The Family Background of Young Homeless People (with Gilford S. and O'Sullivan A) Family Policy Studies Centre/JRF, London. Funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Other

(2001) 2 Videos (1hr 40 mins) on rural youth homelessness - a play for young people and a documentary created by View to Learning for the Cotswolds Rural Homelessness Project

Company Information Page last updated 08 April 2008 Page owner J Sherry