October Lunchtime Talk
Wednesday 14th of September
October Lunchtime Talk- ‘Hidden’ Homelessness in Northern Ireland
Date: Wednesday 19th of October
Time: 1pm
The presentation will discuss stark findings of a new report commissioned by Simon Community NI in partnership with Ulster University and supported by Nationwide Building Society, revealing that ‘hidden homelessness’ could now be affecting more than 110,000 people locally.
The research examines who is vulnerable to hidden homelessness, the barriers and challenges that are faced regarding seeking and receiving support, the impact of a lack of long-term funding for the sector, and the housing supply crisis. The study includes the findings of interviews with a range of voluntary, community, statutory organisations and individuals who share their own experience of hidden homelessness.
Speakers:
Ann Marie Gray
Ann Marie Gray is Professor of Social Policy in the School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences at Ulster University. She is also Co-Director of the ARK project (www.ark.ac.uk), a joint Ulster University/Queen’s University, Belfast research centre which uses a multi-method approach to help researchers, policymakers and practitioners understand society and politics and encourage critical and positive policy debate.
Professor Gray’s research interests are in the areas of social care, devolution and social policy and gender and social policy. Publications include two co-authored books published by Policy Press-Transforming Adult Social Care: contemporary policy and practice (2013) and Delivering Social Welfare: governance and service provision in the UK (2016).
Ann Marie is currently working with colleagues Joan Ballantine and Michelle Rouse and the NI Women’s Budget Group on a JRCT funded project on the potential of gender budgeting to address gender inequality in NI.
Karen McAlister
Karen McAlister joined Simon Community NI in 2015. A qualified social worker with over 20 years’ experience working within the voluntary sector, in May 2021 Karen took up the role of Head of Research and Development for the charity and is currently working on a report on Mental Health & Homelessness in partnership with Depaul, which is due for release later in 2022.
Prior to this, Karen oversaw youth and family provision at the charity, ensuring that dynamic and innovative services were developed and delivered to the most vulnerable of clients