Tackling homelessness is far more complex than simply providing accommodation.

Since 2012, Arts and Homelessness International (AHI) have advocated for the role that arts and creativity can play in helping to build resilience, agency, well-being, skills and social connections for those who are or have been homeless. AHI also promotes the benefits of co-production methodologies across all its work, arguing that those who have experienced homelessness should be central to decision making processes and delivery.

This research report examines initiatives pioneered by AHI, supported by Coventry City of Culture 2021, to re-think and re-position how arts and creativity can change perceptions, policy and outcomes for those who are or have been homeless in Coventry. It centres attention on two initiatives specifically:

• A Legislative Theatre project to refresh Coventry City Council’s homelessness policy and rough sleeper strategy via co-production methodologies.
• HOME: arts and homelessness festival that ran from the 9^th - 16^th October 2021 to coincide with World Homelessness Day on 10^th October.

It examines key findings resulting from these initiatives, the co-production methodologies they employed, and explores how multiple stakeholders narrate and understand their participation. It concludes by highlighting the legacies of this work and learning to take forward.

This report is based on a three-year study and draws on a mixed method approach to data gathering and analysis including participant observation; semi-structured interviews; vox pops; photo elicitation and creative methods of documenting events including diary entries and photography.

To read the report, please click here.