It is commonly supposed that homeless people are isolated and alienated from society. But new research casts doubt on this stereotype, suggesting that many retain surprisingly strong ties with relatives even though family breakdown is quite likely to have caused their plight. While the homeless may lose contact with their mothers or fathers, the study says, most remain close to siblings and grandparents and do, in fact, wish to rebuild links with their parents.
This is true of 19-year-old Matt, who spent his childhood in and out of care, living in four different children's homes. He currently lives in a hostel in Birmingham, but he sees one of his sisters every day and another sister and his mother at least once a week. "I haven't seen my dad for some time," he says. "I would like to make contact, but I am concerned about his reaction."
Matt's case is one of those high lighted in Dreams Deferred, the report of a pilot project offering one of the first in-depth examinations of the support networks of homeless people. It suggests that if the homeless are to move on, they need not only practical support with housing, drug, alcohol and mental health issues, but equally help to consolidate their networks of family and friends.
The report, due to be published next week, underscores the growing realisation that homelessness is not just a housing problem. Until now, however, little has been known about the nature and extent of the social networks of homeless people.
The research, by housing consultancy Lemos and Crane, comprised a series of structured interviews with 26 homeless people in London and Birmingham over a six-month period. The people came from different age groups and each individual was interviewed several times on an "action research" basis - agreeing to take action to improve their lot, which was later evaluated - and was paid a total £20 in instalments.
Researchers were surprised to discover that many of the homeless people had links, albeit fragile in some cases, with family or friends. A "significant minority" also had relationships with girlfriends or boyfriends. Women were found to be especially close to their sisters and the report notes that relationships with siblings were "frequently strong and important".
This was the case with Lisa, described as in her teens and estranged from her parents. She had been homeless for almost a year. After sharing a flat with her sister, her sister's partner and their two children, she was forced to move out because there was insufficient room. However they still saw each other twice a week and Lisa told researchers: "I am confident my sister will not let me down."
Other people wanted to try to repair damaged relations with their parents. For Brian, in his 30s and living in a mental health hostel, the lack of contact with his mother and brother was a matter of deep concern. He was cut off after a violent dispute. "I haven't seen them since 1999 following an argument and my mental ill health," he said. "I am afraid that I may never see them again. I am isolated from them." But he added: "I want to restore the family relationship I lost several years ago. Family is important to me and I care for them."
Such sentiments were not shared by everyone. Some of those interviewed had been physically abused by their fathers and had no desire for contact. Others were simply estranged - but saw their grandmothers as someone they could turn to in times of need. In some cases, grandmothers were descrbed as the "most important people" in their lives.
Friendships were also important and researchers found that these were often struck up with other homeless people. Shared experiences made it easier for some to connect with each other. For others, though, breaking away from negative lifestyles and habits meant distancing themselves from other homeless people. Yet rebuilding old friendships and establishing new ones was overwhelmingly attractive to all, along with taking up new interests, such as sport, or learning new skills.
The findings have surprised the report's authors, who say homeless people have complex needs which need to be recognised by housing agencies. Gerard Lemos, co-author, says: "I think I had been assuming that people would be very isolated and would have completely lost touch. I was expecting people to be more detached from family life than they were. This shows a support network that exists that could prevent the need for people to go into hostels or stop them feeling so isolated when they are resettled somewhere."
The report says that agencies working with the homeless must look at more than providing a roof. It calls on support workers to strengthen social networks, perhaps by involving specialist help such as family mediation services, befriending schemes, counsellors and mentors, who might help a person work through a particular problem.
Work has been started already in this area by some of the more specialist housing agencies. Alone in London, a charity involved in the research, attaches great importance to the role of families of homeless people. The charity works with 1,500 young people every year and has pioneered family mediation services. This has allowed young people to build bridges with their families and retain vital emotional support.
"There is a huge need for this service," says spokesman Mark Forrester. "Young people may leave home because they can't get on with house rules, or there has been a change in the family structure. Depending on how the mediation develops, a young person may stay at home or move out - but with the support of the family so they can call on them for some time for help and assistance. One young person who went through mediation had not had any contact with her mother for several years. However, she found a flat and her mother bought her a fridge."
Family mediation workers are now going into schools in an attempt to prevent youth homelessness. The grim reality of life on the street is spelled out to teenagers, who are also taught how to negotiate themselves out of conflicts. Counsellors who specialise in this work are also training people to become family mediation workers in other organisations.
Other innovative ways are being adopted to tackle homelessness through social contact. In London, Thamesreach Bondway, a charity helping rough sleepers, has set up a number of special projects aimed at enabling people to adjust after a period of homelessness. These include a peer education project, whereby people who were once homeless can give advice to tenants on rebuilding their lives.
In the West Midlands, young homeless people are encouraged to set up informal support networks of friends. Last year, 4,000 young people were referred to the St Basil's housing charity, which has 29 projects dotted around Birmingham. Paul Bridges, a divisional manager for the charity, says that homelessness workers are well aware of the need for emotional support, but the new research is the first time that it has been highlighted in a study.
He believes that a "toolkit", included in the report and setting out ways of looking at people's emotional needs, will prove invaluable to all housing workers. For him, the solution is simple. "Homelessness is a consequence, not a cause," says Bridges. "Social support is a way of addressing the cause and preventing social exclusion."
· Dreams Deferred is published on October 28 and is available on 020-8348 8263 or at www.lemosandcrane.co.uk
