Gambling and Homelessness: Conducting research Overseas Lesley McMahon 14/10/05 Joint Centre for Scottish Housing Research The Geddes Institute University of Dundee

Introduction  Research projects: Australian study The Research Process The Research Process Points for reflection Points for reflection  Key findings to date  Tentative recommendations

The Process (Ritchie & Lewis, 2003)  Framing the research questions Literature review : Antonetti & Horn (2001), Talbot (2004) Literature review : Antonetti & Horn (2001), Talbot (2004) Pilot study in Tayside (11 staff in 9 agencies and 2 GA members) Pilot study in Tayside (11 staff in 9 agencies and 2 GA members)  Choosing methodology Case study approach (secondary and primary data) Case study approach (secondary and primary data) Clients: in-depth – detailed account of their experiences (socio-economic, housing history, gambling history, triggers, support) Clients: in-depth – detailed account of their experiences (socio-economic, housing history, gambling history, triggers, support) Agencies: semi-structured (organisation, funding, forms of support, changes over the past decade, awareness of problem gambling and homeless) Agencies: semi-structured (organisation, funding, forms of support, changes over the past decade, awareness of problem gambling and homeless)

Process cont.  Research Ethics Incentives and reciprocity wrt participants Incentives and reciprocity wrt participants Protecting participants from harm Protecting participants from harm Protecting myself from harm Protecting myself from harm  Choosing research sample Gambling counselling providers Gambling counselling providers Homelessness service providers Homelessness service providers People who have experienced pg and homelessness People who have experienced pg and homelessness  Contacting participants Contact at State government Contact at State government

Process cont.  Designing survey instrument Agency questionnaire several iterations Agency questionnaire several iterations  Prep for field work Setting up appointments Setting up appointments Using online maps to see locations of agencies and to estimate distance for travelling between appointments Using online maps to see locations of agencies and to estimate distance for travelling between appointments Local contact: Eleanor Local contact: Eleanor Map, timetables Map, timetables Check all equipment works! Check all equipment works!

Process cont.  Conducting of fieldwork Allow enough time Allow enough time SnowballingSnowballing Length of interviewsLength of interviews Travelling timeTravelling time Writing up notes and transcribingWriting up notes and transcribing  Analysis Thematic analysis Thematic analysis  Reporting To the fund body: Carnegie Trust To the fund body: Carnegie Trust Invited to conferences Invited to conferences Journal papers Journal papers

Reflection on process  Need to estimate time better  Need to learn to drive

The Study  Interviewed 26 agency staff in 17 organisations and 8 clients Funded by Carnegie Trust Funded by Carnegie Trust  Objectives: Enquire into the experiences of people who have experienced problem gambling, and the impact of this on their housing status Enquire into the experiences of people who have experienced problem gambling, and the impact of this on their housing status To identify the support factors To identify the support factors Highlight good practice Highlight good practice

Key Findings: Australia Gambling Counselling Agencies Gambling Counselling Agencies Estimated approx 25% clients have experienced homelessness or a reduction in housing circumstances caused by the problem gambling (eviction, repossession, relationship breakdown)Estimated approx 25% clients have experienced homelessness or a reduction in housing circumstances caused by the problem gambling (eviction, repossession, relationship breakdown) Homelessness sector Homelessness sector Variation regarding awareness of problem gambling as a discrete issueVariation regarding awareness of problem gambling as a discrete issue Very rarely the presenting issueVery rarely the presenting issue Not the primary or secondary reason, but it is a growing factor especially with clients who have complex needsNot the primary or secondary reason, but it is a growing factor especially with clients who have complex needs Homelessness academic: “Gambling is not an issue.”Homelessness academic: “Gambling is not an issue.”

Why the different representations of the problem? ClientNon-disclosure  Stigma  Shame  Fear of denial of service Needs not meet Worker Not identifying  Not on radar  Inadequate skills to respond (perceived or actual) Problem gambling de-prioritised HOMELESSNESS & HOUSING SECTOR

Tentative Recommendations  Scottish Executive: should be proactive with community education programmes (illustrating behavioural strategies, as well as problem recognition) Should encourage people to talk openly about problem gambling to remove the stigma and shame Should encourage people to talk openly about problem gambling to remove the stigma and shame Should fund services with new money into the welfare services sector (from some of the additional tax receipts from gambling) Should fund services with new money into the welfare services sector (from some of the additional tax receipts from gambling) Data collection Data collection  Gambling industry to a degree acknowledges its role and responsibilities RIGT to fund support for PG and community education RIGT to fund support for PG and community education RIGT  Housing & homelessness sector Training to raise awareness (GamCare) Training to raise awareness (GamCare)GamCare Develop policies regarding service delivery for people who are experiencing problem gambling Develop policies regarding service delivery for people who are experiencing problem gambling