Project Director: Paul Hickman
Project Duration: 2011-2013
The Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research led a research consortium, commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), to evaluate the Direct Payment Demonstration Projects programme. The other research partners were the Oxford Institute of Social Policy (OISP) at the University of Oxford and Ipsos MORI (MORI). The Demonstration Projects are:
- Shropshire Council, Bromford Group, Sanctuary Housing and The Wrekin Housing Trust
- Family Mosaic with the London Borough of Southwark
- Wakefield and District Housing and Wakefield Council
- Oxford City Council and GreenSquare Group
- Torfaen Borough Council, Bron Afon Community Housing, and Charter Housing.
What was the aim of the study?
The aims of the evaluation, which began in January and will conclude in September 2013, were to:
- evaluate the impact of the demonstration projects on tenants and on a range of stakeholders (including local authorities, other social landlords and lenders)
- test and further develop the trigger points for making payments to landlords and the associated safeguards for landlord income streams
- evaluate the most effective forms of support to help individuals budget effectively and improve their financial independence
- develop a definition of tenants with significant support needs to inform exemptions and safeguard policies and create a methodology for identifying these groups.
What did the research entail?
The study team undertook a range of activities including: interviewing representatives of organisations with an expertise and interest in money management; in-depth interviews with key stakeholders within the Demonstration Projects; rent account analysis; large scale tenant surveys; in-depth interviews with tenants; and product testing and budgeting exercises with tenants.
The project team also included David Robinson (University of Sheffield).
