Homelessness among Central Eastern European community in post-Brexit Britain

This research project explores the hitherto neglected experiences of homeless Polish migrants in northern England. It is set in the context of escalating homelessness among this population (Department for Communities and Local Government, 2017). There is a dearth of research on Central Eastern European (CEE) migrant exits from homelessness, their individual lifestyle choices, and decision-making, particularly with regards to discovering the reasons behind remaining in a state of long-term destitution instead of returning to their countries of origin. This presents a fundamental obstacle for local governments, homelessness charities, and housing practitioners in responding effectively to this escalating problem. Such questions are particularly important in the context of the UK's imminent exit from the European Union, an increasing administrative xenoscepticism in the country (O'Brien, 2015), and the ambiguous position of EU citizens' legal status and entitlement to welfare rights (Currie, 2016; Ford, 2016; The Repeal Bill, 2017).