This report describes the findings from a small-scale, exploratory, qualitative research project that explores reasons why some people return to sleeping rough after time off the streets. The research team identified four key areas for analysis: push factors; pull factors; holes in the safety net; access to services. The report also included a range of recommendations to prevent people from sleeping rough again. 

The research was conducted by a group of peer researchers, through the St Mungo’s Recovery College. The researchers were people who had experienced homelessness; many had slept rough in London and elsewhere. The researchers worked in partnership with the St Mungo’s Research Manager to co-produce and design the research question, data collection instruments and sampling frame, to conduct interviews and focus groups with St Mungo’s clients and staff, to identify themes for analysis, and to shape the final report. The team identified four key areas for analysis: push factors; pull factors; holes in the safety net; access to services. 

All of these things act together to create pressure on a person. Some push factors will be enough on their own to cause a person to leave. Others will have a small effect on their own, but grow and multiply over time to have a bigger impact.