Deborah Quilgars
Emeritus Professor

Profile

Biography

• BA Hons (First Class) Social Policy
• MA, University of York

From October 2024 Deborah is an Emeritus Professor in the School. 

Previously a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Housing Policy with twenty-five years housing research experience, Deborah has particular expertise in homelessness and housing and support services for vulnerable groups.

Deborah has undertaken extensive research on homelessness and housing related support for vulnerable and marginalised households. She is a particular expert in youth homelessness, having undertaken work on child poverty and well-being, the role of foyers, and a UK-wide review of youth homelessness. Deborah has directed a number of evaluations of pilot projects designed to prevent or address homelessness, including services for homeless families, families with alleged anti-social behaviour, ex-offenders and teenage parents.  She has also undertaken review work on the accommodation and support needs of asylum seekers and refugees, gypsies and travellers, households at risk of domestic violence and veterans.  She is interested in the intersections between risk and difference. 

Deborah has an interest in the delivery and management of sustainable housing. She also has undertaken considerable work on safety nets for low income homeowners both nationally, and the (in) security of homeownership including the role of housing equity.

With Nicholas Pleace, Deborah represents the UK in the European Observatory on Homelessness which operates under the auspices of the Fédération Européenne des Associations Nationales Travaillant avec les Sans-Abri, (FEANTSA).  Deborah is also a member of the Women's Homelessness in Europe Network (WHEN).

Research

Overview

Research interests

• homelessness and housing and support services
• young people
• service evaluation
• sustainable housing
• European perspectives

Deborah is a specialist in qualitative research methods, but also has extensive experience of reviewing methodologies and the integration of quantitative and qualitative material in mixed method research. She also has a particular expertise in the evaluation of pilot projects.

Research news

• Deborah Quilgars at the International Summit on the Legal Needs of Street Youth

Projects

• Derwenthorpe: Design, behaviours and inclusion (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)

• Housing and Poverty: Longitudinal study (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)

• Accommodation and housing related support for veterans: A review and longitudinal study (Riverside/ Stoll)

• Evaluation of the York and District CAB/ York Travellers Trust partnership outreach service for the Gypsy and Traveller community in York (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)

• Gypsy and Travellers' Sites and Energy Bills (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)

• Evaluation of Threshold Housing First project for Women Offenders (Threshold)

Publications

Full publications list

Croucher, K., Quilgars., D., Baxter, D. and Dyke, A. (2017) Housing and Life Experiences: First interviews with a qualitative longitudinal panel of low income households, Second interim report to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Housing and Life Experiences - 2nd interim report (PDF , 1,348kb)‌

Rugg, J. and Quilgars, D. (2015) Young People and Housing: A Review of the Present Policy and Practice Landscape ,Youth and Policy Special Edition: The Next Five Years: Prospects for young people, No 114, May, pp5-16 http://www.youthandpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/rugg-quilgars-young-people-and-housing1.pdf

Jones, A., Quilgars, D., O'Malley, L., Rhodes, D., Bevan, M. and Pleace, N. (2014) Meeting the housing and support needs of single veterans in Great Britain, York: University of York. ‌Veterans full report (PDF , 3,560kb)  and Veterans executive summary (PDF , 1,488kb)‌‌

Pleace, N. and Quilgars, D. (2013)  Improving health and social integration through Housing First: A Review, DIHAL. Health and Social Integration - (PDF , 946kb)‌

Wallace, A., Ford, J., Quilgars, D. (2013) Build it yourself? Understanding the changing landscape of the UK self build market  University of York and Lloyds Banking Group Self build report (PDF , 1,996kb) and  Self build report summary (PDF , 896kb) and Self Build Supplementary Report (PDF , 437kb)‌

Elsinga, M., Quilgars, D and Doling, J. (2012) Where housing and pensions meet, International Journal of Housing Policy, Vol 12, 1, pp1-12. [editorial]‌‌

Jones, A., Geilenkeuser , T., Helbrecht, I. and Quilgars, D. (2012) ‘Demographic change and retirement planning: Comparing households’ views on the role of housing equity in Germany and the UK’, International Journal of Housing Policy 12 (1) pp 27-45.

Pleace, N., Rhodes, D. and Quilgars, D. (2012) Understanding and Tackling Child Poverty on Peabody Estates London: Peabody Trust Report (PDF , 1,221kb)  Report summary (PDF , 111kb)

Quilgars, D. (2012) 'Homeless People: Youth in the United Kingdom' in Smith, S.J (Ed.) The International Encyclopaedia of Housing and Home, pp 156-160, London: Elsevier.

Quilgars, D., Jones, A., Bevan, M., Bowles, R. and Pleace, N. (2012) Supporting short-term prisoners leaving HMP Leeds: Evaluation of the Shelter Prisoners Advocacy Release Team, York: Centre for Housing Policy, University of York Report (PDF , 1,898kb)‌

Jones, A., Bevan, M. and Quilgars, D. (2011) 'Cautiously optimistic? UK households' perceptions of old age, retirement and the role of housing equity'', Teorija in Praksa, vol. 47, issue 5, pp934-1010.‌‌

Pleace, N.; Teller, N. and Quilgars, D. (2011) Social Housing Allocation and Homelessness: EOH Comparative Studies on Homelessness, Brussels: Feantsa

Quilgars, D., Johnsen, S. Pleace, N., Beecham, J. and Bonin, E. (2011) Supporting independence? Evaluation of the teenage parent supported housing pilot - Final report, DFE-RRR158, London: Department for Education Report (PDF , 2,353kb)‌

Quilgars, D., Fitzpatrick, S. and Pleace, N. (2011) Ending youth homelessness: Possibilities, challenges and practical solutions, London: Centrepoint Report (PDF , 518kb)‌

Wallace, A., Quilgars, D. and Ford, J. (2011) Exiting Unsustainable Homeownership: Understanding current practice and the potential of Assisted Voluntary Sales.Report (PDF , 1,864kb) Summary (PDF , 672kb) Guidance (PDF , 422kb)‌

Quilgars, D. and Jones, A. (2010) 'Housing wealth: A safety net of last resort? Findings from a European study', in Smith, S.J. and Searle, B.A. (2010) The Housing Wealth of Nations, London: Blackwell.

Quilgars, D. and Pleace, N. (2010) Meeting the Needs of Households at Risk of Domestic Violence in England: The Role of Accommodation and Housing-Related Support Services , London: Communities and Local Government. Report (PDF , 3,644kb)‌

Fitzpatrick, S., Quilgars, D. and Pleace, N. (Editors) (2009) Homelessness in the UK: Problems and solutions, Coventry: Chartered Institute of Housing.

McNaugton, C. and Quilgars, D. (2009) Homelessness amongst minority ethnic groups in Fitzpatrick, S., Quilgars, D. and Pleace, N. (Editors) Homelessness in the UK: Problems and solutions, Coventry: Chartered Institute of Housing, pp73-88.

Quilgars, D. and Bretherton, J. (2009) Evaluation of the experiences of single people presenting as homeless in Glasgow.

Quilgars, D., Elsinga, M., Jones, A., Toussaint, J., Ruonavaara, H., and Naumanen, P. (2009) Inside qualitative, cross-national research: Making methods transparent in a EU housing study, International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 12, 1, Feb, pp 19-31.

Jones, A. and Quilgars, D. (2008) Evaluation of Shelter London Prisons Project: Resettling women prisoners from HMP Holloway, report to Shelter.

Pleace, N., Fitzpatrick, S., Johnson, S., Quilgars, D. and Sanderson, D. (2008) Family homelessness in England, London: Communities and Local Government.

Quilgars, D., Johnsen, S. and Pleace, N. (2008) Review of Youth Homelessness in the UK, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Quilgars, D. and Jones, A. (2008) 'Safe as houses?: Perceptions of home ownership in the UK', in Elsinga, M., Teller, N. and Toussiant, J. (eds) Beyond Asset and Insecurity: On risks and insecurity of home ownership in Europe, Delft University Press: Delft.

Quilgars, D., Jones, A. and Abbott, D. (2008) 'Does difference make a difference? Financial planning for risk across social groups', Social Policy and Administration, 42, 6, 576-92.

Stephens, M. and Quilgars, D. (2008) Sub-prime mortgage lending in the UK, European Journal of Housing Policy, 8, 2, 197-215.

Pleace, N.; Quilgars, D.; Jones, A. and Rugg J. (2007) Tackling homelessness - Housing associations and local authorities working in partnership, London: The Housing Corporation.

Quilgars, D. (2007) 'Community care development: developing the capacity of local communities to respond to their own support and care needs?', in Balloch, S. and Hill, M. (eds) Communities, Citizenship and Care: research and practice in a changing policy context, Bristol: The Policy Press.

Jones, A., Pleace, N. and Quilgars, D. (2006) ' Anti-social Behaviour and Social Inclusion', in Flint, J. (ed) Housing, Urban Governance and Anti-social Behaviour, Bristol: The Policy Press.

Jones, A., Pleace, N., Quilgars, D. and Sanderson, D (2006) Addressing Antisocial Behaviour: An independent evaluation of the Shelter Inclusion Project, London. Shelter.

Stephens, M. and Quilgars, D. (2006) 'Strategic pragmatism? The state of British housing policy', in Bauld, L., Clarke, K. and Maltby, T. (eds) Social Policy Review 18, Bristol: The Policy Press, pp.65-82.

Ford, D., Quilgars, D., Burrows, R. and Rhodes, D. (2004) Risk, homeowners and safety-nets: MPPI and beyond, London: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Quilgars, D., Jones, A. and Pleace, N. (2004) Safe Moves: An evaluation, York: Centre for Housing Policy.

Quilgars, D., Burrows, R., Wright, K. (2004) Refugee housing and neighbourhood issues: A scoping review, York: Centre for Housing Policy

Croucher K., Quilgars D., Wallace A., Baldwin S. and Mather L. (2003) Paying the Mortgage? A Systematic Literature Review of Safety Nets for Homeowners, York: School for Business and Society, University of York.Paying the Mortgage Report (PDF , 905kb)  Paying the Mortgage Summary (PDF , 329kb)  

Pleace, N. and Quilgars, D. (2003) Supporting People: Guidance on Services for Homeless People London: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Pleace, N. and Quilgars, D. (2003) Homelessness research in the UK: Led rather than leading? Journal of Community and Applied Social, 13, 187-196.

Quilgars, D. and Pleace, N. (2003) Delivering Health Care to Homeless People: An Effectiveness Review , Edinburgh: NHS Health Scotland

Jones, A.; Pleace, N. and Quilgars, D (2002) Firm Foundations: An evaluation of the Shelter Homeless to Home service , London: Shelter.

Ford, J. and Quilgars, D. (2001) Failing Home Owners? The effectiveness of public and private safety nets, Housing Studies, 16, 2, 147-162.

Ford, J. and Quilgars, D. (2000) Financial Intermediaries and Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance, York: Centre for Housing Policy, University of York.

Kempson, E., Ford, J., Quilgars, D. (1999) Unsafe Safety Nets, York: Centre for Housing Policy, University of York.

Burrows, R.; Pleace, N. and Quilgars, D (eds) (1997) Homelessness and Social Policy London: Routledge.