Jeremy Swain

March 2011

Southwark Reach

Ending Homelessness:

three challenges

Twice as many people would feel sympathy for a homeless dog as for a homeless person with drug or mental health problems, a survey suggests. And 41% of those questioned believed many homeless people did not want to be housed, the survey for the BBC found.

Some 2,000 people across the UK were questioned for the survey, carried out by TNS and commissioned to launch the BBC's No Home season of programming.

‘Lack of sympathy for homeless’

Some 50% thought the homeless refused to help themselves

Source: BBC News Online 27/11/06

Working with communities

Family support

I have some strong relationships with my family

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Source: Thames Reach Service User Survey 2010

Family support

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Thames Reach helps me have the contact I want with my family

Source: Thames Reach Service User Survey 2010

Getting people into work

Yes

No

Are you currently in paid employment?

Source: Thames Reach Service User Survey 2010

Getting people into work

Yes, as soon as possible

Yes, but at some point in the future

No

Would you like to work?

Source: Thames Reach Service User Survey 2010

Getting people into work

Health reasons

Lack of skills or qualifications

Concern that would be worse off

financially

Worried about managing finances

At retirement age

In unstable accommodation

High rents

What is the main barrier to you getting a job?

Source: Thames Reach Service User Survey 2010

Solutions

Over 800 destitute Central and Eastern Europeans helped

home

Many more assisted to find work

http://www.thamesreach.org.uk/what-we-do/routes-home

Living Well Collaborative (1)

NHS needs to achieve more successful at home interventions

NHS needs to save money

Collaborative bringing together service users, carers, doctors, mental health teams, psychiatrists, voluntary sector

Thames Reach leads the community options team

Living Well Collaborative (2)

Objectives:

Early intervention to prevent relapse

Sign posting and support

Natural support mechanisms – peer groups, family, community

Easy in, easy out

Greater control and self-determination