**Content/trigger warning: mental health; substance use; domestic violence; abuse**

What exactly is ‘hidden homelessness’? And is sofa surfing always safer than rough sleeping? In this third episode, host and Fuse Public Partner, Victoria Bartle, speaks with Joanne McGrath, NIHR School for Public Health Research doctoral student, about her research into women’s experiences of homelessness and the very real impact this can have on health.

Joanne talks with Victoria about what is meant by ‘multiple exclusion’, illustrating this with experiences and examples from her own research. Joanne suggests some ways we could identify people sooner who are at risk of hidden homelessness, with reference to substance use, domestic violence and trauma. She explores the role that social networks play and, with permission, draws on the experiences of the Experts by Experience who are involved in her research.

Areas for further research are discussed and Joanne answers the big question: "If you had one message for our listeners to take away, what would it be?" Listen now to find out.

Joanne McGrath is in her 3rd year of a PhD in Public Health based at Northumbria University, focused on health inequalities. The project is funded through the NIHR School for Public Health Research and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria (ARC NENC). Joanne previously worked at Crisis UK as a Progression Coach and Strategic Partnerships Officer. She has also worked with funding organisations Big Lottery Fund and Comic Relief. She was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to travel to the USA and Norway to research better ways of identifying people at risk of chronic homelessness and reoffending.

⁠Victoria Bartle⁠ is this episode's host. She is a public partner who has collaborated closely with Fuse and the wider public partner-led podcast planning group in creating the 'Public Health Research & Me' podcast. Victoria has been involved with research from a patient and public perspective since she had to stop working in 2016 due to multiple long-term health conditions. Victoria is passionate about health and social care research, and feels that the input from every public partner makes research more focused and beneficial to all.

Resources and further information

Fuse

NIHR School for Public Health Research

⁠NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria

Oasis – Domestic Abuse Charity

Shelter – The housing and homelessness charity

Crisis – Homelessness charity

Joe’s Place⁠

With special thanks to the Fuse podcast group (Emma Adams, Victoria Bartle, David Black, Cheryl Blake, Mandy Cheetham, Lesley Haley, Fiona Ling, Cassey Muir, John O’Shea, Laura Ritson, Viola Rook, Cheryl Wiscombe), David Winter (editing) and Shaun O'Boyle (training). Produced by Ella Anderson and Mark Welford. Music: Tuesday (Glitch Soft Hip-hop) by amaksi.

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Contact for more information: ⁠info@fuse.ac.uk

⁠For a copy of the transcript: ⁠⁠info@fuse.ac.uk⁠⁠