Homelessness

Homelessness and health

Ill health can be both a cause and consequence of homelessness. Being homeless is associated with extremely poor health outcomes relative to those of the general population, with the average age of death of homeless people in 2012 being 47 years for men and 43 years for women when compared to 77 for the general population (74 for men, 80 for women). Homeless people are more likely to have poor physical and mental health, and people with physical and mental health problems are more vulnerable to becoming homeless. As with other risks to public health, prevention and early intervention can help to keep people housed appropriately, stopping the escalation of issues that can lead to losing stable accommodation and worsening health.

Homelessness Reduction Act

The Homelessness Reduction Act represents a unique opportunity to strengthen collaboration between local government, health services and voluntary sector partners, focusing on what we can do together to better prevent and relieve homelessness and to improve the health of homeless people in Bedford Borough. To contribute to this effort, we draw on national and local evidence to describe key challenges for homeless people, focusing on the health impacts of homelessness for a number of vulnerable groups.

The report highlights a small number of targeted areas for focus that collectively aim to improve health and prevent homelessness among vulnerable groups, and to improve health outcomes for homeless people. The associated recommendations are intended to be achievable, evidence-based and with potential to positively impact population health.

Recommendations

There has been considerable work in Bedford Borough to reduce homelessness and especially rough sleeping over the last few years. The Homelessness Strategy 2016 -21 has highlighted the need to work in partnership both to prevent people becoming homeless in the first place and to provide a joined up response when people do become homeless. However, further work is needed to prevent and address the health impact of homelessness and to understand and address the wider forms of homelessness and their impact on health and wellbeing.

1. Improve awareness of the Homelessness Reduction Act and implications for partner organisations, especially regarding the duty to refer
2. Improve the identification, assessment, recording and sharing of housing vulnerability, including little understood groups such as the hidden homeless
3. Improve understanding of the overlap between mental health, substance misuse and housing
4. Improve signposting and access to local services that can impact root causes of homelessness
5. Improve consistent health care access for homeless individuals, from primary care through to acute care
6. Incorporate health and wider outcomes into evaluations of homelessness initiatives

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Downloads

The annual Director of Public Health report is an independent report focused on improving the health of the people of Bedford Borough and this year the report focuses on the important topic of homelessness and health. It aims to highlight issues, present evidence and make recommendations to address the public health challenges of homelessness, in order to better prevent homelessness and improve the health of homeless people

• Homelessness and Health Executive Summary (PDF)
• Homelessness and Health full report (PDF)

We welcome your feedback on what you find useful and what other information you think would help understanding this important subject. Please contact us on [email protected]

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