Helping Crisis understand the experiences of people sleeping rough

According to homelessness charity Crisis, the number of people sleeping rough in England rose by 27% in 2023. Following the Covid pandemic, Crisis sought to understand people’s experiences of rough sleeping. They aimed to explore the underlying causes of rough sleeping, as well as the impacts on physical and mental well-being. Qa were commissioned to conduct a quantitative survey, supporting Crisis’ research.

Approach

Qa visited homelessness services in urban locations across England and undertook face-to-face quantitative surveys with people with current or recent experience of rough sleeping. Our research team approached each interview with sensitivity and empathy, ensuring participants felt comfortable sharing their experiences.

Outcome

Our research helped Crisis produce a report exploring the experiences and impacts of sleeping rough in England. Crisis were able to identify the reasons people are forced to sleep rough, their experiences of violence and abuse, and the impacts on their mental and physical health. The findings were instrumental in shaping Crisis’ policy work and informing their Christmas fundraising campaign.

For more information please contact:

Helen Hardcastle  Research Director
helen.hardcastle@qaresearch.co.uk
01904 632039

Photography: Ben Hershey on Unsplash