Prevalence of clinical autistic traits within a homeless population: barriers to accessing homeless services

ABSTRACT

Recent research suggests a high prevalence rate of Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) amongst the homeless population. Although, it is well-documented that autistic people experienced many barriers to accessing health services, little is known about their challenges in accessing homeless services. Thus, the present study aimed to measure prevalence of high levels of autistic traits, and to identify barriers that prevent autistic people accessing homeless services. Participants recruited from homeless services (n = 65) completed the Autism Quotient-10 (AQ-10) alongside a questionnaire regarding perceived accessibility of homeless services. Results revealed that 18.5% of participants scored Above the Clinical Threshold of the AQ-10 (ACT-AQ). Moreover, the ACT-AQ group reported that encountering big groups in shared accommodation represent a significant barrier to engaging with homeless services. Further research is needed to identify the full degree of ASC representation and the factors that might prevent autistic homeless people accessing homeless services, and thus overcoming homelessness.

KEYWORDS:

• Autism
• homelessness
• prevalence
• barriers
• homeless services

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the participants who took part in the research, the Framework Housing Association and the Forge Project in Lincolnshire for their invaluable help.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr Niko Kargas is the director of the Autism Research & Innovation Centre (ARIC) at University of Lincoln. His research is focused on developing innovative accessible services for people with hidden disabilities such as autism.

Miss Kathryn M. Harley is a master’s graduate student in Forensic Psychology.

Amanda Roberts is a Reader in the School of Psychology, College of Social Science. She completed her first degree at University College London (BSc Hons Psychology), before moving to Cardiff University to conduct her PhD in Behavioural Neuroscience. Amanda took up her first permanent full-time post at Kings College London, before moving to Queen Mary University, University of East London and then to Lincoln. Amanda’s main research interests include risk factors for antisocial and maladaptive behaviour, addiction, violence, and problem and pathological gambling. Other research includes the evaluation of gambling addiction treatment programmes both in the community (e.g. the Gordon Moody Association and the National problem Gambling Clinic) and in UK prisons. Additional interests extend across topics that relate to gambling comorbidity, gambling in vulnerable populations, gambling and interpersonal violence, autism and homelessness

Dr Stephen Sharman is a Research Fellow at the University of East London (UEL). His work at UEL uses Virtual Reality to investigate gambling behaviour, and is funded by a fellowship from the Society for the Study of Addiction. Prior to this, Steve previously worked as a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Lincoln. Steve completed his PhD investigating gambling related cognitions at the University of Cambridge, an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL, and a BSc in Psychology at UEL.

ORCID

Niko Kargas http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0052-5363

Amanda Roberts http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2889-9551