A public engagement and dissemination event took place at Trinity Long Room Hub last Friday, Sept 13th, highlighting findings from a postdoctoral research project on the lived experience of people with histories of homelessness and substance use disorder (SUD). Funded by Research Ireland, the project team included Associate Professor, Paula Mayock, Principal Investigator and Dr Branagh O’Shaughnessy, Postdoctoral Research Fellow.
Funded by TRiSS, the event brought together academic researchers, homelessness organisation representatives, policy stakeholders, practitioners working with homeless adults, and individuals with lived experience. Talks aimed to raise awareness of the study’s findings which relate to the complex intersection of homelessness and SUD, and to generate discussion about policy implications for addressing homelessness and SUD and supporting recovery trajectories.
Invited speakers included Professor Sarah Johsen, University of Edinburgh, Eddie Mullins, CEO of Merchants Quay Ireland, and Julie McKenna, Senior Health and Recovery Services Manager, NOVAS. The sessions were chaired by Dr Shane Butler, Fellow Emeritus at the School of Social Work and Social Policy.
The key findings of the study were presented including the novel contribution of recovery dynamics, and the importance of something to recover for, as highlighted by the study’s participants. Prof Sarah Johnsen responded to findings, with reflections on her research on severe and multiple disadvantage in Scotland. Practitioner-experts, Eddie Mullins and Julie McKenna presented implications for policy and practice based on reflections on their experience in the field of addiction support and homelessness services. The event closed with an open Q&A session between the panel and attendees.
The event was well-subscribed and the organisers hope it will be one of many contributions to the ongoing conversation about recovery in the context of homelessness and SUD.