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  • voice-for-change
  1. A voice for change

A voice for change

We are in the grip of a homelessness crisis. At least 280,000 people were homeless in England as of December 2019 according to the latest estimates from Shelter, an increase of 23,000 since 2016. London is the most acutely affected, with a shocking 1 in 52 people now homeless in the capital. 

Government statistics also show that people on the streets are dying decades early, often of treatable conditions. According to the Office of National Statistics, in 2018 the average age of the 726 people who died while homeless was around 44, meaning that they typically died more than three decades too soon. A third of these deaths were caused by treatable conditions. The deaths also represented the highest year-to-year increase (22%) since figures began to be recorded in 2013. Hospital admissions in England relating to homelessness, meanwhile, leapt 130% in the five years to 2018-19. 

The COVID-19 crisis has underlined the centrality of appropriate health care to the support and recovery of people who have experienced homelessness. In recent years, across all of our homeless pathway services we have seen increasing numbers of people who, as a result of their long-term substance dependency and the length of time they have spent sleeping rough, present with serious health conditions for which they are not receiving the necessary health support. 

Mainstream support services have proven inaccessible to people facing multiple disadvantage, who find themselves struggling to navigate a 'maze' of services that are overly complex, inflexible and insufficiently coordinated to meet their needs. 

To achieve a sustained reduction in the number of premature deaths among rough sleepers, we need to learn from and address the systemic obstacles the people who use our services face – including listening to the first-hand experience of clients in order to inform the commissioning and design of future services. 

With more targeted investment and effective collaboration between health, social care and housing services, far more appropriate and effective services could be delivered.  

Sports & Health Project

Sports & Health Project

Our Sport and Health Programme aims to transform the health and wellbeing of homeless and vulnerable people through sport and physical activity. Read more

Published: 17th February, 2021

Author: Alexander Green

Related topics:
  • A voice for change
Health & care needs of rough sleepers

Health & care needs of rough sleepers

In 2019-20 SHP carried out an evaluation of the health and care needs of people living within our homeless pathway services, and identified recommendations for change. Read more

Published: 3rd July, 2020

Updated: 17th February, 2021

Author: Stephen Rylance

Related topics:
  • A voice for change
Fulfilling Lives Programme

Fulfilling Lives Programme

FLIC works in partnership with local statutory and voluntary agencies to improve services for people experiencing multiple disadvantage and drive systemic change, influencing how services are designed and delivered. Read more

Published: 1st July, 2020

Updated: 29th January, 2021

Author: Alexander Green

Related topics:
  • A voice for change
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  • Our Mission

    Our Mission

    We are Single Homeless Project (SHP), a London-wide charity working to prevent homelessness and help vulnerable and socially excluded people to transform their lives.

  • How we transform lives

    How we transform lives

    Each day our work restores hope to homeless and vulnerable people with nowhere else to turn.

  • Map of our services

    Map of our services

    Use our interactive map to see where we work on the ground

  • Volunteer vacancies

    Volunteer vacancies

    Could you volunteer your time, skills and talents to help homeless and vulnerable people to transform their lives?

  • Supported accommodation

    Supported accommodation

    Our hostels and supported housing are a lifeline for homeless people who are at a point in their lives where they would struggle to live independently.

  • A homelessness crisis

    A homelessness crisis

    Homelessness has no place in 21st century London – yet we are in the grip of a homeless crisis.

  • Services by borough

    Services by borough

    Find out what services we provide in each London borough.

  • In from the cold: how to help rough sleepers this winter

    In from the cold: how to help rough sleepers this winter

    With rough sleeping in London on the rise, it’s easy to feel helpless – but you can make a difference.

  • Our Mission, Vision & Values

    Our Mission, Vision & Values

    Our mission, vision and values inspire and challenge us as an organisation.

  • Multiple and complex needs

    Multiple and complex needs

    People with multiple needs can find themselves in a downward spiral, living chaotic lives and experiencing poverty, stigma and discrimination.

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Published: 21st April, 2017

Updated: 17th April, 2020

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