Young homeless people are developing serious health problems because agencies are failing to offer a multi-disciplinary approach to services, new findings reveal.
A report published last month by the Foyer Federation, which provides accommodation for young homeless people, calls for a more effective partnership between agencies ahead of the government's planned three- month consultation on health inequalities.
A fifth of foyer residents have some form of mental health problem, nearly 40 per cent drink excessively and 70 per cent are smokers.
Foyer Federation chief executive Carolyn Hayman said there was a need for a holistic approach when dealing with young people.
She suggested introducing multi-skilled health professionals into frontline facilities, and better partnerships between agencies. Multi-skilled staff have already been introduced to some of the charity's 106 foyers, which provide accommodation for 5,000 people a year.
The Health Partnership Guide from www.foyer.net
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