Homelessness Research

Homelessness Project. Focus Group – Description and Sample Script. Purpose. Participant Population. Length. Number of Focus Groups. Confidentiality. Conduct. Themes. Sample Questions. Engagement questions (forming stageExploration questions (norming and performing stageExit questions (adjournment phaseDraft Script.

The research team will facilitate focus groups with housing service users to better understand the barriers to safe, secure and adequate housing in the (geographic region).

Focus groups with service users will help assess the short-term goals of housing placement, the short-term goal of socio-economic well-being, and the medium-term goal of housing stability.

The research team has set a target of four focus groups, two in 2017 and two in 2018.

Focus groups will be audio-recorded only if all participants agree upon signing individual consent forms (which will ask for permission to audio-record). If one participant withholds consent to be recorded the evaluators will rely on the notetaker record for the entire focus group. Preference to be recorded or not will be kept confidential.

The tone of conversation will be general, discussing the lived expertise service users have about how social service systems function and where they see gaps. The facilitators will not be asking about individual experiences, although people may share these experiences during the course of the conversation.