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  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.  

Sport & Health Project

Sport & Health Project

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

Published: 9th March, 2021

Updated: 18th June, 2021

Author: Alexander Green

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: 2nd July, 2021

Author: Stephen Rylance

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: 19th November, 2021

Author: Alexander Green

Have Your Say

Have Your Say

Many homeless or socially excluded people simply don't feel that their view counts. Our Have Your Say campaign empowers clients to have a voice in matters that affect them. Read more

Published: 17th May, 2017

Updated: 9th March, 2021

Author:

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Do you believe everyone should have a place to call home and the chance to lead a fulfilling life? If so, we'd love to stay in touch! Read more

Published: 7th December, 2017

Updated: 5th July, 2021

Author: Alexander Green

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