Dr Emma Bimpson
Research Fellow, BA (Hons), MA, PhD
Summary
Dr Emma Bimpson is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research. Emma has both academic and practice-based expertise in local housing welfare systems, particularly in social and supported housing. Emma's research is largely qualitative and focuses on housing and disadvantage, and the intersections between housing and broader social and support systems. This includes research exploring women’s experiences of housing insecurity, homelessness, and family separation. Emma has also led evaluations of women’s housing and support services (Basis; Marylebone), and is currently leading research around changes in the form and function of domestic abuse provision.
About
Emma’s research at CRESR has involved large government-commissioned research and evaluations, including Supported Housing, homelessness and health care interventions for people with complex social support needs, and housing enforcement. Other funders include Welsh Government, Age UK, and the Nuffield Foundation.
Emma's research interests include:
- Welfare governance
- Housing and marginalisation
- Women and family homelessness
- Housing, health and social care
Teaching
Housing Subject Group.
Research
- Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research
- Social and Economic Research Institute
2024-2026 Young People At Risk Evaluation, Lambeth Council. Role: Principal Investigator/ Project Manager.
2024 Safe Accommodation: Understanding the form and function of domestic abuse support in the UK. Role: Principal Investigator.
2024 Social Housing Quality Programme. Role: Member of research team.
2023 Supported Housing Research, DLUHC. Role, Member of research team.
2023 Understanding Women’s Need for Safe Space: Evaluation of The Sanctuary at the Marylebone Project, Church Army. Role: Project Manager.
2022-2024 Holding onto Home: Tenancy Sustainment in Social Housing, Nuffield Foundation. Role: Member of research team.
2019-2021 Social Impact Audit. Man GPM. Role, Member of research team.
2020- 2021 Research into local authority enforcement in the private rented sector and property guardianship, DLHUC. Role: Member of research team.
2020 Rough Sleeping and Complex Needs: A Process Evaluation, DLHUC. Role: Member of research team.
2020 Evaluation of Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme, Welsh Government. Role: Member of research team.
2019-2021 Leeds Neighbourhood Network Evaluation, Centre for Ageing Better. Role: Member of research team.
2019-2020 Rough Sleeping Grant Evaluation, Public Health England. Role: Member of research team.
2018-2019 Motherhood and homelessness – Intersectional challenges of parenting, health and identity. Role: Member of research team.
Publications
Journal articles
Gore, T., Bimpson, E., Dobson, J., & Parkes, S. (2023). Path Clearing, Policy Acceleration or Trend Reinforcement: Potential Implications of Selected Local Government Responses to Covid-19 in the UK. International Review of Public Policy, 5 (3), 313-344. http://doi.org/10.4000/irpp.3872
Dayson, C., Bimpson, E., Ellis-Paine, A., Gilbertson, J., & Kara, H. (2021). The ‘resilience’ of community organisations during the COVID 19 pandemic: absorptive, adaptive and transformational capacity during a crisis response. Voluntary Sector Review. http://doi.org/10.1332/204080521X16190270778389
Bimpson, E., Parr, S., & Reeve, K. (2020). Governing homeless mothers: the unmaking of home and family. Housing Studies. http://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2020.1853069
Book chapters
Dayson, C., Bimpson, E., Ellis Paine, A., Gilbertson, J., & Kara, H. (2022). Voluntary Sector Organisations, Older People and Healthy Ageing During the COVID-19 Pandemic. In Rees, J., Macmillan, R., Dayson, C., Damm, C., & Bynner, C. (Eds.) COVID-19 and the Voluntary and Community Sector in the UK: Responses, Impacts and Adaptation. Policy Press: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/covid-19-and-the-voluntary-and-community-sector-in-the-uk
Reports
Hickman, P., Reeve, K., Wilson, I., Thomas, P., Kilby, L., Lamb, M., ... Prestwich, J. (2025). Tenancy sustainment in social housing: Final report. Sheffield Hallam University. http://doi.org/10.7190/h2h.2024.0374798696
Hickman, P., Reeve, K., Wilson, I., Thomas, P., Kilby, L., Lamb, M., ... Prestwich, J. (2025). Tenancy sustainment in social housing: Key findings. Sheffield Hallam University. http://doi.org/10.7190/h2h.2024.9113866259
Hickman, P., Reeve, K., Wilson, I., Thomas, P., Kilby, L., Lamb, M., ... Prestwich, J. (2025). Promoting tenancy sustainment in social housing: a guide for social landlords. Sheffield Hallam University. http://doi.org/10.7190/h2h.2024.1332637625
Hickman, P., Reeve, K., Wilson, I., Thomas, P., Kilby, L., Lamb, M., ... Prestwich, J. (2025). Tenancy sustainment in social housing: Final report - additional information about the research methods used by the study team. Sheffield Hallam University. http://doi.org/10.7190/h2h.2024.840719544
Beatty, C., Bimpson, E., Gilbertson, J., McCarthy, L., Sanderson, E., & Wilson, I. (2024). Supported Housing Review 2023. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supported-housing-review-2023
Hickman, P., Reeve, K., Bimpson, E., Lamb, M., Manzi, T., & Speake, B. (2023). Engaging with tenants to sustain their tenancies: insights from interviews with case study stakeholders. Nuffield Foundation. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/engaging-with-tenants-to-sustain-their-tenancies
Hickman, P., Reeve, K., Bimpson, E., Lamb, M., Manzi, T., & Speake, A. (2023). Engaging with tenants to sustain their tenancies: insights from interviews with case study stakeholders - Summary. Nuffield Foundation. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/engaging-with-tenants-to-sustain-their-tenancies-summary
Bimpson, E., Dayson, C., Ellis Paine, A., Gilbertson, J., Karagic, H., & Leather, D. (2023). Evaluation of the Leeds Neighbourhood Networks: Understanding equity of offer, access and resources. Centre for Ageing Better. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/understanding-equity-of-offer-access-and-resources
Bimpson, E., & Manzi, T. (2022). Drivers of rent arrears in social housing: an evidence review. Nuffield Foundation. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/drivers-of-rent-arrears-in-social-housing
Bimpson, E., Reeve, K., Batty, E., Chambers, J., Goodchild, B., Mccarthy, L., ... Wilson, I. (2022). Local authority enforcement in the private rented sector: headline report. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-enforcement-in-the-private-rented-sector-headline-report/local-authority-enforcement-in-the-private-rented-sector-headline-report
Bimpson, E., Green, H., & Reeve, K. (2021). Women, homelessness and violence: what works? Centre for Homelessness Impact. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/projects/all-projects/women-homelessness-and-violence-what-works
Ambrose, A., Gilbertson, J., Speake, B., Bimpson, E., Mccarthy, L., & Ramsden, S. (2021). Cross-sector review of affordability support: an evidence review for the Consumer Council for Water. Sheffield Hallam University, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research. http://doi.org/10.7190/cresr.2021.6894611266
Gore, A., Bimpson, E., Dobson, J., & Parkes, S. (2021). Local Government Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK: A Thematic Review. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/local-government-responses-to-the-covid19-pandemic-in-the-uk-a-thematic-review
Dayson, C., Bimpson, E., Ellis-Paine, A., Gilbertson, J., & Kara, H. (2020). The role of the Leeds Neighbourhood Networks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Centre for Ageing Better. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/the-role-of-the-leeds-neighbourhood-networks-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
Dayson, C., Bimpson, E., Ellis-Paine, A., Gilbertson, J., & Kara, H. (2020). Ever more needed? The role of the Leeds Neighbourhood Networks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Centre for Ageing Better. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/the-role-of-the-leeds-neighbourhood-networks-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
Reeve, K., & Bimpson, E. (2020). Forgotten mothers: the case for a policy focus on the experiences of motherhood and homelessness. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/forgotten-mothers-the-case-for-a-policy-focus-on-the-experiences-of-motherhood-and-homelessness
Ambrose, A., Archer, T., & Bimpson, E. (2020). Research to identify early lessons emerging from the Innovative Housing Programme: Summary. Welsh Government. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/research-to-identify-early-lessons-emerging-from-the-innovative-housing-programme-summary
Ambrose, A., Archer, T., & Bimpson, E. (2020). Research to identify early lessons emerging from the Innovative Housing Programme. Welsh Government. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/research-to-identify-early-lessons-emerging-from-the-innovative-housing-programme
Bimpson, E., Reeve, K., & Parr, S. (2020). Homeless mothers: Key research findings. UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE). https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/homeless-mothers-key-research-findings
Postgraduate supervision
Emma currently supervises a PhD exploring the intersections of gender and homelessness.