Housing ‘Histories’ of Refugees

Taking a housing pathways approach allows for a more holistic exploration of housing transitions for refugees. This chapter maps out these pathways, whilst also documenting the impact of life events, intervention/engagement (or not) with services and refugees’ wellbeing within this process. We draw attention to both differences and similarities of experiences from the period of gaining status. It is evident that those refugees who were part of a resettlement scheme have had less complex housing transitions. We acknowledge the very real difficulties refugees face in securing appropriate and affordable housing and consider how changes in the life course, for example in family structure, further impact housing experiences and choice. We also consider the potential for opportunities through education and the acquisition of skills as well as the impact of housing stress on the exacerbation of mental health issues.