News

Many of the rough sleepers left on the streets have the greatest needs and multiple problems, despite the government having almost reached its target of reducing the number of street homeless to 600, according to two leading homelessness charities last week.

Analysis of Shelter's and Crisis's Millennium Plus initiative, a multi-agency advice and support project set up two years ago, during the past year has found three main problems affecting the 1,500 homeless people it has worked with. Alcohol and drug problems affected 35 per cent of the 1,500 homeless people, 27 per cent had a mental health problem and 17 per cent a physical health problem.

The initiative also found that many had a common route into homelessness, with more than a quarter of rough sleepers citing relationship breakdown as a primary cause, and a fifth pointing to a lost tenancy or home.

Of the 1,500 homeless people involved in the initiative, a comprehensive needs assessment was carried out with 379, leading to individual action plans aimed at finding long-term housing and the support needed to sustain it. Housing was found for 362 people.

"We applaud the government's work on street homelessness, but it is vital we don't stop at this," said Shelter director Chris Holmes. "We need an effective, compassionate strategy to meet the needs of those on the streets after the government's target is met."

Both charities hope that Millennium Plus may be adopted as a multi-agency model that local authorities can use in their homelessness strategies, which it is expected they will be required to produce and publish under forthcoming homelessness legislation.

For further information about the study contact 020 7505 2162 or 020 7505 1804.