Homeless turn to A&E for help

The problem of homeless people sleeping on Britain’s streets may have been transferred to hospitals, according to a new study.

Although the Government claims that the number of people sleeping rough has fallen by three-quarters since 1988, figures obtained from 173 hospital trusts under the Freedom of Information Act reveal mounting pressure on the NHS from the homeless.

In England, a homeless person is admitted to hospital for problems related to drugs or alcohol every three hours. A total of 13,872 people with “ no fixed abode” were admitted to hospital over the last five years for drug or alcohol misuse. Total drug and alcohol related admissions of homeless people have risen by 117 per cent since 2004.

The stastistics were obtained by the Conservative Party’s Homelessness Foundation, which includes the Shelter, Crisis and other homeless charities.

In a forthcoming report, seen by The Independent, the group says that six out of 10 hospital trusts have seen drug and alcohol-related admissions among the homeless rise in the last five years. More than 10 per cent of these patients were young people; in some areas up to 40 per cent of those admitted were under 25.

The report says: “Alcohol and drug dependency is, in many cases, what has led people to the streets but it also creates a vicious circle which makes the process of finding accommodation that much more difficult. The side-effects, both medical and non-medical that come with regular abuse of drugs and alcohol makes it virtually impossible for these most vulnerable of people to seek help. Appointments are missed, the lack of an address makes registering for help difficult and turning towards crime becomes ever more likely.”

The report says that recent change to the method of counting rough sleepers appears “slanted rather more towards political objectives” of getting the numbers down rather than the reality reported by homelessness groups.

Grant Shapps, the shadow Housing Minister, said: “Failing to confront the extent of homelessness in the United Kingdom leaves our frontline services like the NHS struggling to cope. Our report demonstrates how drugs and alcohol often play a major role in perpetuating the chaotic lives lived by people trapped in homelessness. It’s time to introduce policies that could start to make a difference like targeting cut price high strength larger sold by supermarkets at less than it costs to buy a bottle water.”

The Department for Communities and Local Government said last night: ” We recognise that there is more that needs to be done to meet the complex needs of rough sleepers, which is why through our ‘No One Left Out’ rough sleeping strategy we are working with the Department of Health to further improve their access to health and social care services. “

A spokesman said homeless people should be helped by personalised support packages addressing all areas of their lives and should be discharged from hospital to appropriate accommodation.

Some 39 per cent of rough sleepers have an alcohol problem and 42 per cent a problem with drugs. The Salvation Army believes the Government’s alcohol policy is failing the homeless, as it focuses on binge drinking, rather than aiming to address the underlying health problems caused by alcohol.

Taken from The Independent

City’s young homeless to get beds at £1m centre

A charity is planning a new £1million centre to house homeless young people in Wearside.

Centrepoint plans a purpose-built home for 16 to 21-year-olds in Dundas Street, Monkwearmouth.

It is hoped the housing charity’s facility will help cut the number of young people sleeping rough or staying in bed and breakfasts in the city.

The “supported housing project” would provide both accommodation and training to help break the cycle of homelessness.

In the past year, 59 homeless young people were sent to live in bed and breakfasts – often outside the city – at a cost of £35,000 because there was nowhere else for them to stay.

The new housing project would help Sunderland City Council meet its target of not having any 16 or 17-year-olds living in bed and breakfast accommodation by next year.

It would also minimise the number of under-18s sleeping rough by providing emergency accommodation.

Councillors are set to hand over the Dundas Street site – valued at £75,000 – for free to Centrepoint and the council will also help the charity in bidding for £832,000 in funding to help pay for the home.

Maxine Edney, chief operations officer at Centrepoint, said the new building would not just provide a place for young people to stay with 24-hour support, but also education on everything from nutrition to job-searching skills.

She added: “We recognise that young people are often not just homeless but have other support needs and reasons contributing to their homelessness.

“Also we wanted to work with young people to look at why their relationship with their families has broken down and, if possible – and we know it isn’t always possible – see if they can maintain a relationship with their parent or other family.”

Ms Edney said Centrepoint had won a top award for its comprehensive support and training, and also worked with young people to help them become part of their community.

“That helps break down the ‘them and us’ situation which can occur when people think there’s a ‘hostel in their street’, for example,” she said.

Work on the new centre – which will also be open to those leaving the care system – could start as soon as February next year, and be complete by the following February.

Centrepoint is a national charity working to improve the lives of socially excluded, homeless young people and provides a range of accommodation-based services.

It is already contracted by the council to provide an “immediate access supporting housing project” for young people in the city.

Its Sunderland operation is presently based in Mowbray Road, Hendon – but its planning permission is due to run out in March.

The building is also deemed unsuitable because of its size, layout and state of repair.

In the past six months 37 young people have joined the service and 15 have left, but there is still a big short-fall in the amount of spaces available.

Senior councillors on Sunderland’s ruling cabinet are recommended to approve the hand-over of the Dundas Street site to Centrepoint – subject to terms to be agreed by the council – at a meeting at Sunderaland Civic Centre today.

Taken from Sunderland Echo