‘I get up in the night to cry’: The impact of homelessness on higher education students in London, UK

Abstract

While the higher education landscape has changed radically since the late 1980s, a consistent feature of government policy has been to widen participation to students who were disproportionately excluded previously. Post-1992 universities in particular have experienced a substantial change in their student intake, but challenges remain in ensuring the retention and success of these students. This article argues that student homelessness is a significant and an under-researched barrier to students reaching their potential. The problem is explored here, illuminated by a focus group and a series of interviews involving 16 students from one school at a London post-1992 university. The impact of homelessness was far-reaching in terms of their emotional wellbeing and ability to fully participate in university life, including pressure on time and financial resources, inability to fully focus on studies, and limited engagement with fellow students and the wider university experience.

Geographies of purpose built student accommodation: Exclusivity, precarity and (im)mobility

“…There are students effectively being locked out of college because they cannot find or afford suitable accommodation whilst they study” (USI, in O'Kelly, 2018). A further study conducted at London Metropolitan University found 27 students were homeless in just one department (Mulrenan, Atkins, & Cox, 2018). An increasing number of students are precariously housed in insecure and unsatisfactory conditions, through sofa surfing or living in emergency accommodation, hostels, B&Bs and even tents (Lightfoot, 2016).…”

Student Homelessness: Sheltering Our Future: An Adaptable Approach to Underutilised City Spaces

“…T he following sections will discuss how homelessness is a social and political problem and explores how the design for their temporary shelters is an architectural problem that instigate the importance and significance of this research. However, it still remains that the immediate and practical steps to address this issue requires providing tailored advice and information to homeless students and having emergency accommodation available (Atkins, 2017). This…”

“…This study highlights that "[m]any felt a sense of embarrassment that prevented them from discussing it with their colleagues or with the support services at the university" (Atkins, 2017). Relevant measures that are taken from the studies include "providing more tailored advice and information to homeless students, and having an element of emergency accommodation for students in crisis" (Atkins, 2017). This international research shows how the large cities of New Zealand could potentially look like in the future if there is no significant actions and changes in this issue.…”

“…The university believe that they cannot solve the housing shortage and therefore need to give a clear message that there is nothing to be embarrassed about (Lightfoot, 2017). This study highlights that "[m]any felt a sense of embarrassment that prevented them from discussing it with their colleagues or with the support services at the university" (Atkins, 2017). Relevant measures that are taken from the studies include "providing more tailored advice and information to homeless students, and having an element of emergency accommodation for students in crisis" (Atkins, 2017).…”

“…"I felt reduced … the whole of the first year, I never saw any lecturers … even my friends. I kept to myself " (Atkins, Cox & Mulrenan, 2017).…”