Dr. Paula Mayock

Summary

This biographical study aims to examine young people's paths to homelessness or housing instability and trace their 'journeys' through homelessness. The study also aims to include a family member of the homeless young person (sibling, parent, carer) and to gain their perspectives on the young person's current living situation.

Funding Agency

Focus Ireland

Project Type

Qualtiative Research

Summary

This mapping exercise was designed to support the commitment on the part of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive to conduct a review of service provision for homeless women. It primarily aimed to collect comprehensive information on the range of accommodation services currently available to women in the Dublin region in order to develop a clearer and more nuanced understanding of the nature of current provision for female service users women. It additionally aimed to gain service providers' perspectives on the adequacy of existing services for homeless women.

Funding Agency

Dublin Region Homeless Executive

Project Type

Quantitative Research

Summary

The core aim of this research was to conduct an in-depth investigation of the lives and experiences of homeless women in Ireland with specific attention to their homeless 'pathways', that is, their entry routes to homelessness, the homeless experience itself and, possibly, their exit routes from homelessness. The study, which integrated biographical interviewing and ethnographic observation,aimed to contextualises and locate women's homelessness within a continuum of precipitating, perpetuating and/or enabling factors, crossing both structural and individual factors, that help to explain their homeless/ housing 'careers'.

Funding Agency

Irish Research Council Research Fellowship Scheme, 2009-10

Project Type

Biographical/Ethnographic research

Summary

This study set out to conduct an in-depth examination of the lives and experiences of homeless young people in the Dublin region. A core aim was to understand transition and change in their lives with a specific focus on their trajectories into, through and out of homelessness. The term 'homeless' was defined and operationalised to include young people who were 'roofless' or sleeping rough as well as those living in homeless hostels or other emergency or temporary accommodation types. It also included a small number of young people who had recently experienced homelessness. The study design was underpinned by a pathways approach, a conceptualisation which recognises the fluid and changeable nature of homelessness and the experiences that surround homelessness. Thus, homelessness is not viewed as static or fixed, but rather is an evolving status that is continually subject to change.

Funding Agency

Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Dublin Region Homeless Executive

Project Type

Qualitative Longitudinal Research

Summary

The aim of the study was to provide DHSSPS and treatment service providers with a better understanding of cocaine use in Northern Ireland by using qualitative research methods to explore patterns of drug use and the lifestyles of cocaine users. The research incorporated the following: 1.An assessment of drug use patterns and lifestyles of cocaine users in Northern Ireland; and 2.Information prevention treatment options and information needs about cocaine use.

Funding Agency

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS), Northern Ireland

Project Type

Qualitative Research