Reducing evictions and abandonment

Good practice in reducing eviction and abandonment from hostels
Eviction and abandonment project - FAQs
Reducing evictions and abandonment toolkit
Support to reduce your evictions and abandonments
Pilot projects to reduce evictions and abandonment

Unplanned moves from hostel accommodation and other supported housing projects (in the form of evictions and abandonment) often result in people returning to street homelessness. Repeat homelessness for this very vulnerable client group could be prevented, resulting in better outcomes for homeless people and cost savings for the agencies that support them.

Since January 2009, Homeless Link has been working to reduce evictions and abandonments from homelessness services across England, thanks to funding from the Oak Foundation. In addition, we are working with policymakers and commissioners to provide better evidence about what works in sustaining tenancies within hostels and other supported housing projects for rough sleepers.
 
The ultimate goal of the project is to reduce the number of evictions and abandonments from hostels and other supported accommodation for homeless people by developing evidence-based solutions and disseminating these widely.
 
The project is funded to cover three main phases as outlined below:
 

2009: Research

Throughout 2009 we undertook qualitative and quantitative research into the prevalence, causes and solutions to evictions and abandonment from homelessness services. The results of this research can be found here.
 

2010: Trials

Using the lessons and ideas found during our research, we then worked intensively with five services and commissioners within London to trial solutions and monitor their impact. To view the evaluation report, click here.
 

2011: Time to change

Following on from both of the above, 2011 sees the next exciting phase of the project begin: reducing evictions and abandonment from services nationally through sharing good practice and offering direct support to providers and commissioners.
 
Good practice
We have collated all of the tips, ideas, tools and guidance into a new resource: our reducing evictions and abandonment toolkit. The toolkit is aimed at both providers and commissioners, and includes resources and examples from other services to help you understand the causes of evictions and abandonment in your area and give you ideas and means to reduce them.
 
We have also created a dedicated good practice page on our website including tips for frontline workers and case studies of effective services outlining how providers and commissioners have achieved a reduction in unplanned moves.
 
Direct support
Throughout 2011 we want to spread the learning and tools as widely as possible across England in order to see a reduction in people being evicted or abandoning services. For this reason, we have put together of an offer of direct support for any homelessness service provider or commissioner who wants to reduce their levels of unplanned moves. See our offer of support here.
 
Events
We will also be running a number of events throughout the country in order to share these messages. Those taken place, or scheduled to take place, so far are: 
If you would like us to hold an event in your area, please contact us.