The Social Responses to Stigma study in south London aims to understand how stigma is experienced by people impacted by homelessness, and then what drives and maintains stigma within different care and support systems.

The study findings are being used to develop responses to stigma. We want to find out how we can target policies, institutions and systems for change.

The project is led by a team within KCL: Andy Guise, Simone Helleren, River Újhadbor and Lotte Elton. The KCL team are working closely with charities, services and local authorities in implementing the study and developing responses to stigma.

Study participation

We want to hear from people in south London with experience of homelessness, or who are working in services with people who are homeless, or have experiences that give insight to experiences of homelessness.

We are arranging interviews (with individuals and groups), and are gathering documents and information that can tell us about experiences of stigma and discrimination.

Please contact Andy if you would like more information: email - andrew.guise@kcl.ac.uk - phone call/text/whatsapp - 07585 329509 - post: Addison House, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, London, SE1 1UL

Responding to stigma

The research team have been working with a network of committed and caring people from south London, already full of ideas and taking action on stigma. This network includes research participants, people working in homelessness and health services, researchers and policy makers.

We now want to work with this network and use the research findings to develop social responses to stigma.

We are in the early stages of developing responses. The process is described here.

Please contact us if you would like to be involved or want more information – andrew.guise@kcl.ac.uk