Pathways Paradox
A game about navigating the housing and employment systems
Pathways Paradox is a large-scale game about navigating the systems of housing, benefits, employment and support services for people experiencing homelessness. The game was co-produced with Social Bite, drawing on real-life stories.
The game helps players to understand the barriers in the system, and to reflect on how we might tackle them. It is designed to simulate the real-world challenges faced by individuals facing homelessness in securing both income and a home.
The game creates an interactive, thought-provoking environment that encourages participants to step into the shoes of those navigating the complex systems of housing and employment.
Contact us if you’d like to find out more.
Read about where Pathways Paradox started, co-produced with homelessness charity Social Bite.
“So, at the 2025 Social Impact Conference, we played a ‘serious game’ called The Pathways Paradox. Developed with Socialudo, the interactive session invited attendees to step into the shoes of someone navigating homelessness. Built on the real-life experiences of Jobs First participants, the game revealed how overwhelming and disjointed the system can be.”
“Pathways Paradox: such an inspiring session on housing, employment and the vicious cycle, highlighting the struggle of homelessness and requirement of stability through a powerful game. You need a home to get a job, but a job to get a home!”
Bring Pathways Paradox to your conference, staff day, or other event
Players take on the role of either people experiencing homelessness, or service-providers making decisions with scarce resources. It draws on real stories, and was co-produced with Social Bite.
The game can be played with between 14 and 170+ players, with a session run in 90 minutes to two hours. It is an ideal game for including in a conference or event programme, in order to get participants moving around, talking to each, and reflecting on challenging issues.