Homelessness

Question 1

Define rough sleeper

Answer 1

People sleeping/about to bed down in the open air or in a building or place not meant for habitation e.g. stair well, tents, doorways

Question 2

Define sofa surfer

Answer 2

Staying with family/friends for short periods of time, no settled place to stay

Question 3

Define hidden homeless

Answer 3

People who become homeless but find temporary places to stay e.g. sofa surfer, squatting, shelters so not included in official figures

Question 4

Define statutory homeless

Answer 4

Homelessness recognised by local authorities, must be eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless within ‘priority need’ group

&councils have duty to provide aid to these individuals

Question 5

Priority need groups

Answer 5

• Pregnant women and households with children
• aged 16 or 17 (up to 20 if care leaver)
• vulnerable due to mental health, disability, previous custody, HM forces
• leaving home due to threat of violence

Question 6

Structural causes of homelessness

Answer 6

Poverty 
Inequality
Housing supply/affordability
Unemployment 
No access to social security

Question 7

Individual causes of homelessness

Answer 7

Poor mental or physical health
Refugees
Childhood trauma
Experience of abuse 
Bereavement 
Substance abuse
Relationship breakdown 
Time in care or in prison

Question 8

Common health problems in homeless people

Answer 8

• 6 x more A&E attendances
• 4 x more hospital admissions
• higher rate of chronic health conditions
• current/previous drug user
• 2.5 x more likely to be asthmatic
• 34 x more TB
• 6 x more heart disease
• 50 x more hepC
• life expectancy for males = 45 (76) for females = 43 (81)
• 1/3 deaths are preventable

Question 9

Barriers to healthcare for homeless people

Answer 9

• unknown/misunderstood rights to primary care
• prejudice from HCPs/black listing
• fear and embarrassment
• no phone or internet access
• frequent relocations
• lack of self worth
• lack of trust in authority
• other priorities e.g. addiction

Question 10

Role of HCPs in care of the homeless

Answer 10

• avoid prejudice!
• identify risk of homelessness among those with poor health, aim to prevent this
• minimise impact of homelessness on health
• improve outcomes for homeless people so that poor health is not a barrier to finding permanent place of residence (promote vaccination, sexual health, MECC)