Relationship as Foundation
In the Bridging the Transition Framework, we highlight the importance of building authentic and trusting relationships with individuals who experience homelessness before employing any strategy for tenancy sustainment or helping a person to address health or social challenges. Individuals who experience or who are at risk of homelessness are much more likely to have received poor treatment in health and social care services in the past [1]. When unhoused people reach out for support, and the people and systems they encounter replicate the problematic dynamics they have experienced in the past, this only reinforces the notion that health and social care providers and the systems in which they work cannot be trusted or relied upon.
Previous research exploring transitions to housing following homelessness illustrates the value that individuals who experience homelessness place on their relationships with health and social care providers when these relationships are seen to be positive and supportive [2]. For many, these relationships are viewed as a crucial foundation on which the transition to housing following homelessness can occur [3].
The relationship is not only necessary for direct service providers to build with the individuals who use their services. It is also a necessary first step for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers who are working at community and population levels.
For more information about the Relationship as Foundation component of the Bridging the Transition Framework, read Chapter 4: Relationship as Foundation [3] in the Bridging the Transition Book.
Perspectives on the Relationship as a Foundation for Homelessness Prevention
In the following video, persons with lived experience of homelessness, advocates, service providers, and policymakers provide their perspectives on the importance of the relationship in homelessness prevention efforts.
After watching this video, proceed to learning more about the next component of framework - the "Four Processes" - or go back to learning more about other components of the framework.
References
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Omerov, P., Craftman, Å. G., Mattsson, E., & Klarare, A. (2020). Homeless persons' experiences of health‐and social care: A systematic integrative review. Health & social care in the community, 28(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12857
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Marshall, C. A., Easton, C., Phillips, B., Boland, L., Isard, R., Holmes, J., ... & Oudshoorn, A. (2024). Experiences of transitioning from homelessness: A systematic review and meta-aggregation of qualitative studies conducted in middle to high income countries. Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness, 33(1), 28-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2022.2141868
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Kerman, N. (2025). Relationship as Foundation. In Bridging the Transition to Housing (pp. 43-52). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003541332-6