Ill-health of young homeless demands holistic approach

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