Over the course of the last year Lemos&Crane have been working with Thames Reach, Groundswell and numerous homelessness organisations in London and further afield to examine the access and usage of digital technology (including computers, the internet and mobile phones) by homeless and ex-homeless people.
The research involved qualitative interviews and quantitative peer-research involving over 200 people. We were interested to find out the extent to which wider social trends in digital technology have impacted upon homeless and vulnerable people, and how vulnerable groups make use of digital technology to form connections, receive support and information and for entertainment. The research identified trends in access and usage of digital technology by people experiencing, or with recent experience of, homelessness. We examined the various uses people made of digital technology, what they felt about their experience of digital technology and how this compares to the wider population, what impact upon their well-being and whether this held any lessons for the practice of front line homelessness services. The research went on to explore the ways in which homelessness services might make use of digital technology to better communicate with and support their clients.
In January 2015 we will be presenting our findings from this research at a free seminar for practitioners and interested parties. The seminar will include a discussion and feedback on our research findings and recommendations for practitioners wishing to apply this learning to their own practice as well a discussion on the next steps for the project at sector level.The research report will be published in January 2015.
The seminar will be held at LankellyChase Foundation in London. If you are interested in attending this event or would like more information about the project please email sarahf@lemosandcrane.co.uk.
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