Learning Library

What Is Homelessness? The Full Picture

Move beyond rough sleeping to understand the many forms homelessness takes — and why it matters for everyone working in the sector.

Hidden Homelessness: Beyond Rough Sleeping

Sofa surfing, temporary accommodation, hidden homelessness — explore the forms of homelessness that are hardest to see.

Why People Become Homeless: Causes and Context

Understand the structural causes of homelessness and why individual explanations alone miss the bigger picture.

What People Experiencing Homelessness Need

Explore what research and people with lived experience tell us about what actually helps — beyond a roof overhead.

16 min

Solutions to Homelessness: The Bigger Picture

From Housing First to prevention strategies — explore the approaches that have the strongest evidence behind them.

Roles and Services in the Homelessness Sector

Get to know the landscape of homelessness services — who does what, and how different services work together.

What Is Trauma?

A grounded introduction to trauma — what it is, how it shows up in the people we support, and why it matters for your practice.

ACEs: How Early Experiences Shape Adult Lives

Understand adverse childhood experiences and their lasting impact — and what this means for the people you work with.

The Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Practice

Explore the six principles that define trauma-informed care — and how they translate into everyday practice.

Psychologically Informed Inductions: Starting Well

Why the induction experience matters for trauma-informed practice — and how to get it right from the start.

Professional Practice & Reflective SkillsFoundation

Professional Curiosity: Asking Better Questions

Explore professional curiosity — the practice of asking more questions, looking further, and not accepting easy answers.

Professional Practice & Reflective SkillsFoundation

Active Listening: Hearing What's Said and What Isn't

Develop your listening skills to hear not just words but meaning, emotion and what's not being said.

Professional Practice & Reflective SkillsFoundation

Reflective Practice: What It Is and Why It Matters

Understand reflective practice — what it really means, why it matters, and how to build it into your working life.

Professional Practice & Reflective SkillsFoundation

Your Professional Development: Using the Homelessness Skills Framework

Understand the National Homelessness Skills Framework and how to use it to guide your own development.

Adult Safeguarding: The Foundations

Build your understanding of adult safeguarding — what it is, why it matters, and your responsibilities under the Care Act.

Recognising Abuse, Neglect and Harm

Learn to recognise the different types of abuse, neglect and harm — and the signs that something may not be right.

Information Sharing and Confidentiality

Navigate the balance between confidentiality and the need to share information to keep people safe.

16 min

The Care Act and Wellbeing: What It Means for Your Practice

Understand the Care Act's wellbeing principle and what it means for your day-to-day practice.

Understanding Mental Health: A Starting Point

A clear and accessible introduction to mental health — what it is, why it matters, and what affects it.

Common Mental Health Experiences in Homelessness

Explore the mental health experiences that are most common among people experiencing homelessness — and why.

Crisis Services: What's Available and How They Work

Get to know the mental health crisis services available in the UK — from CRHT to Section 136 and crisis houses.

Physical Activity and Mental Wellbeing

Explore the strong evidence linking physical activity and mental wellbeing — and how to support people to move more.

Understanding Addiction: Moving Beyond Judgement

Explore what addiction really is — moving beyond moral judgements to a compassionate, evidence-informed understanding.

Harm Reduction: What It Is and Why It Matters

Understand harm reduction — its philosophy, its evidence base, and what it looks like in practice.

The Stages of Change: Meeting People Where They Are

Explore the Stages of Change model and how to apply it when supporting people in their recovery journey.

Overdose Awareness: Signs, Response and Naloxone

Understand the signs of overdose, the basic response, and the role of Naloxone in reducing drug-related deaths.

Drug Treatment Services: What's Available

Get to know the drug treatment services available through the NHS and community providers.

Housing & Homelessness SystemsFoundation

Emergency Housing: Who Qualifies and How

Understand who qualifies for emergency housing from the council — the legal tests, duties, and what happens in practice.

Housing & Homelessness SystemsFoundation

Temporary Accommodation: The Realities

Explore what temporary accommodation really looks like — and its impact on the people placed there.

Housing & Homelessness SystemsFoundation

Housing Options: An Overview for Workers

Get to know the full range of housing options available — so you can better support people to understand their choices.

Benefits & Financial InclusionFoundation

Universal Credit: The Basics

A clear introduction to Universal Credit — how it works, who gets it, and what affects it for people experiencing homelessness.

Benefits & Financial InclusionFoundation

PIP and Disability Benefits: Who Qualifies and How

Understand Personal Independence Payment and disability benefits — current rates, eligibility and the assessment process.

Equality, Diversity & InclusionFoundation

Language Matters: Words, Labels and Power

Explore how the language we use shapes how we think about the people we support — and why it matters.

Equality, Diversity & InclusionFoundation

The Equality Act 2010: What It Means in Practice

Understand the Equality Act 2010 — the nine protected characteristics and what the Act means for homelessness services.

16 min

Staff WellbeingFoundation

Understanding Compassion Fatigue

Explore compassion fatigue — what it is, how it develops, and how to recognise the signs in yourself and others.

Staff WellbeingFoundation

Burnout and Vicarious Trauma: Recognising the Signs

Understand burnout and vicarious trauma — how they differ, how they develop, and the early warning signs to watch for.

Staff WellbeingFoundation

Supporting Yourself While Caring for Others

Explore what it means to care for yourself while doing emotionally demanding work — practical, honest guidance.