On the 9th of June, Justlife hosted the first TA Network workshop aimed at developing a Theory of Change (or TOC). This is a visual illustration that traces the journey from input to outcome in a particular context. As contexts change, so will the Theory of Change - it is a live document.
Ultimately, we would like to see a world where anyone experiencing homelessness or housing vulnerability is met with timely solutions leading to a home that does not compromise their health, safety and wellbeing.
Working towards that goal, the TA Network is developing a movement whose impact would see Temporary Accommodation used as a safe, healthy and short-term solution that works for everyone involved.
With this in mind, we ran a workshop to begin collectively working on what a Theory of Change could look like for the TA Network. It was an exciting event with challenging questions and stimulating discussions, trying to pin down what change looks like and how to achieve it.
By the end of July, the Justlife team will share a brief report summarising the event, including discussion points, lessons learned and the Theory of Change itself. Here is a ‘sneak peak’ summary:
TA network is the main input
Outputs identified at the event include resources, stories, research/training, campaigns and driving collaboration
Short, medium and long term outcomes that were identified include:
- Better understanding of the link between rough sleeping & TA (short term)
- Greater knowledge/evidence base on TA (short term)
- Improved consistency of regulation over TA (short term)
- Improved quality of TA (medium term)
- Better placement system (medium term)
- Higher visibility of the issue (long term)
The Theory of Change is a live document that is owned by the whole network. The short report will include a link to an online platform hosting the TOC that will always be open/available for comments and suggestions as we continue to test and learn the elements of the TOC. When it is ready, we hope you will have a look and add any comments or questions you may have.
A TAAG is a cross-sector collaborative group that includes landlords, residents, local authorities and other public and voluntary sector individuals. They provide a vehicle to drive locally relevant changes for TA. There are currently TAAGs in Brighton, East Sussex, Hackney and Manchester.
Click here to find out more detail about TAAGs and the TA Network.
