The Seeds of Exclusion 2009 

From dependency to social exclusion: New Salvation Army report reveals alarming trends among homeless  
A new report from The Salvation Army into the underlying causes and outcomes of social exclusion reveals relationship breakdown and substance misuse as key reasons for people’s homelessness. The Seeds of Exclusion 2009, produced with the University of Kent and Cardiff University, involved detailed and intensive analysis by clinical psychologists of interviews with 967 homeless adults using Salvation Army hostels and day centres around the UK and Ireland. This new report builds on research first published by The Salvation Army in July last year, which revealed a lack of positive and supportive relationships with family or friends among respondents who are homeless and socially excluded. This latest piece of research extends the sample size of the research and includes analysis by age and by region.  Age profiling in the overall survey reveals particularly alarming results for 18-25 year-olds than for any other age group. The Salvation Army is concerned for a new generation of young homeless adults who appear to be self-medicating with drugs and alcohol in response to the environment, culture and society around them. Thinking ‘it will never happen to me’, The Salvation Army warns some young drinkers are falling into a cycle of severe alcohol dependency without realising the long-term harm they are doing to themselves, their families and to those around them. Relationship breakdown and the lack of supportive relationships are cited as the main reasons for homelessness amongst the respondents (43%). However, the research also reveals that substance abuse and mental health needs play a bigger role in drawing people into homelessness and social exclusion than those interviewed are prepared to recognise. As a result of  The Seeds of Exclusion research The Salvation Army is committed to five deliverables as core drivers of Salvation Army strategy in the UK and Ireland: to support and sustain children and families; to support people in transition; to support vulnerable people; to speak out for marginalised people; and to commit to further research.  

To download a copy of The Seeds of Exclusion 2009 please visit the web address www.salvationarmy.org.uk/seeds      

Detailed information on the methodology and statistical analysis is available from the University of Kent www.kent.ac.uk/chss/abg/exclusion  ·         

The Salvation Army is a worldwide Christian church and registered charity, working in 118 countries, and is one of the largest and most diverse providers of social welfare in the world. The Salvation Army Registered Charity Nos 214779, 215174, in Scotland SC009359, SC037691, and in Ireland CHY6399 For more information visit the website www.salvationarmy.org.uk