Evaluating Peer Support Work

Peer Support Workers are ‘experts-by-experience’ who can provide a unique type of support. They leverage their living and lived experience to provide support to others experiencing similar challenges.

Peer support is emerging as a standard of practice throughout various, diverse settings and undergoing significant professionalisation.

In 2024, Focus Ireland – Ireland’s largest homelessness agency - commissioned Just Economics to conduct a qualitative evaluation of its first 12-months of implementing a peer support work programme.

The evaluation aims to assess the impact of peer support on key stakeholders and to identify any lessons for the future development of the approach within Focus Ireland. 

The research consists of:

• A literature review of the evidence base for peer support work internationally
  
  
• Interviews and focus groups with peer support workers, service users, and staff Interviews with wider stakeholders (e.g. the Housing Agency)
  
  
• Review of internal and external policies on peer support

The evaluation is guided by an Advisory group of experts in homelessness and peer support work. The findings will be published later in 2025.