Gambling and Homelessness:Gambling and Homelessness: Conducting research Overseas Conducting research Overseas

Lesley McMahonLesley McMahon14/10/0514/10/05

Joint Centre for Scottish Housing ResearchThe Geddes InstituteUniversity of Dundee

IntroductionIntroduction

Research projects: Australian studyResearch projects: Australian study The Research Process The Research Process Points for reflectionPoints for reflection

Key findings to date Key findings to date Tentative recommendationsTentative recommendations

The Process (Ritchie & Lewis, 2003)The Process (Ritchie & Lewis, 2003) Framing the research questionsFraming the research questions

Literature review : Antonetti & Horn (2001), Talbot Literature review : Antonetti & Horn (2001), Talbot (2004)(2004)

Pilot study in Tayside (11 staff in 9 agencies and 2 Pilot study in Tayside (11 staff in 9 agencies and 2 GA members)GA members)

Choosing methodologyChoosing methodology Case study approach (secondary and primary data) Case study approach (secondary and primary data) Clients: in-depth – detailed account of their Clients: in-depth – detailed account of their

experiences (socio-economic, housing history, experiences (socio-economic, housing history, gambling history, triggers, support)gambling history, triggers, support)

Agencies: semi-structured (organisation, funding, Agencies: semi-structured (organisation, funding, forms of support, changes over the past decade, forms of support, changes over the past decade, awareness of problem gambling and homeless)awareness of problem gambling and homeless)

Process cont.Process cont.

Research Ethics Research Ethics Incentives and reciprocity wrt participantsIncentives and reciprocity wrt participants Protecting participants from harmProtecting participants from harm Protecting myself from harm Protecting myself from harm

Choosing research sampleChoosing research sample Gambling counselling providersGambling counselling providers Homelessness service providersHomelessness service providers People who have experienced pg and homelessnessPeople who have experienced pg and homelessness

Contacting participantsContacting participants Contact at State governmentContact at State government

Process cont.Process cont.

Designing survey instrumentDesigning survey instrument Agency questionnaire several iterationsAgency questionnaire several iterations

Prep for field workPrep for field work Setting up appointmentsSetting up appointments Using online maps to see locations of agencies and to Using online maps to see locations of agencies and to

estimate distance for travelling between appointmentsestimate distance for travelling between appointments Local contact: EleanorLocal contact: Eleanor Map, timetablesMap, timetables Check all equipment works!Check all equipment works!

Process cont.Process cont. Conducting of fieldworkConducting of fieldwork

Allow enough timeAllow enough time• SnowballingSnowballing• Length of interviewsLength of interviews• Travelling timeTravelling time• Writing up notes and transcribingWriting up notes and transcribing

AnalysisAnalysis Thematic analysisThematic analysis

ReportingReporting To the fund body: Carnegie TrustTo the fund body: Carnegie Trust Invited to conferencesInvited to conferences Journal papersJournal papers

Reflection on processReflection on process

Need to estimate time betterNeed to estimate time better Need to learn to driveNeed to learn to drive

The StudyThe Study

Interviewed 26 agency staff in 17 organisations Interviewed 26 agency staff in 17 organisations and 8 clientsand 8 clients Funded by Carnegie TrustFunded by Carnegie Trust

Objectives:Objectives: Enquire into the experiences of people who have Enquire into the experiences of people who have

experienced problem gambling, and the impact of this experienced problem gambling, and the impact of this on their housing statuson their housing status

To identify the support factors To identify the support factors Highlight good practiceHighlight good practice

Key Findings: AustraliaKey Findings: Australia Gambling Counselling AgenciesGambling Counselling Agencies

• Estimated approx 25% clients have experienced Estimated approx 25% clients have experienced homelessness or a reduction in housing circumstances homelessness or a reduction in housing circumstances caused by the problem gambling (eviction, repossession, caused by the problem gambling (eviction, repossession, relationship breakdown) relationship breakdown)

Homelessness sectorHomelessness sector• Variation regarding awareness of problem gambling as a Variation regarding awareness of problem gambling as a

discrete issuediscrete issue• Very rarely the presenting issueVery rarely the presenting issue• Not the primary or secondary reason, but it is a growing Not the primary or secondary reason, but it is a growing

factor especially with clients who have complex needsfactor 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 Why the different representations of the problem?problem?

ClientClient

Non-disclosureNon-disclosure StigmaStigma ShameShame Fear of denial of Fear of denial of

serviceservice

Needs not meetNeeds not meet

WorkerWorker

Not identifyingNot identifying Not on radarNot on radar Inadequate skills to respond Inadequate skills to respond

(perceived or actual)(perceived or actual)

Problem gambling Problem gambling de-prioritised de-prioritised

HOMELESSNESS & HOUSING SECTOR

Tentative RecommendationsTentative Recommendations Scottish Executive: should be proactive with community Scottish Executive: should be proactive with community

education programmes (illustrating behavioural strategies, as education programmes (illustrating behavioural strategies, as well as problem recognition)well as problem recognition)

Should encourage people to talk openly about problem gambling Should encourage people to talk openly about problem gambling to remove the stigma and shameto remove the stigma and shame

Should fund services with Should fund services with new moneynew money into the welfare services into the welfare services sector (from some of the additional tax receipts from gambling)sector (from some of the additional tax receipts from gambling)

Data collectionData collection Gambling industry to a degree acknowledges its role and Gambling industry to a degree acknowledges its role and

responsibilities responsibilities RIGTRIGT to fund support for PG and community education to fund support for PG and community education

Housing & homelessness sectorHousing & homelessness sector Training to raise awareness (Training to raise awareness (GamCareGamCare)) Develop policies regarding service delivery for people who are Develop policies regarding service delivery for people who are

experiencing problem gamblingexperiencing problem gambling