Whose choice, hostels or homes? Policies for single homeless people

A marked increase in the prevalence of homelessness among single people has coincided with a renewed debate concerning the nature of the problem and the most appropriate policy response. The paper provides a brief discussion of these developments before presenting the key findings of a study of the closure of Alvaston Resettlement Unit, near Derby. These findings relate primarily to white men, but the paper considers what they indicate about the experiences, wants and needs of single homeless people in general. In particular, the study revealed an enormous diversity in lifestyles and aspirations which suggests that the ‘good‐housekeeping’ model of resettlement may often be inappropriate. The paper calls for a pluralistic approach which recognises an important role for direct access hostels.