Homelessness and the vulnerably housed in Basingstoke

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council receive approximately 5,500 applications to their Housing Needs Register every year. Only 400 properties become available in Basingstoke each year.

The Bigger PictureThe Right to Health

The Right to Health is recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – United Nations.

Governments have an obligation to respect, protect and fulfil the right to health.

Committee of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment on

the Right to Health (2000)

UK Legislation:• Housing Act (1996).• Homelessness Act (2002).Government Initiatives:• ‘Code of Guidance’ (Department of Health (DoH), 2002) – sent

to all local authorities in England.• ‘No One Left Out – Communities Ending Rough Sleeping’

(Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), 2008).

Government Reports:• ‘Rough Sleeping Statistics England’ (DCLG, 2010).• ‘Healthcare for Single Homeless People’ (DoH, 2010).

How does Basingstoke tackle Homelessness and the challenges

associated with it?

Homelessness and the vulnerably housed and the associated health implications is not recognised as a health priority in Basingstoke and Deane (Association of Public Health Observatories 2011).

However, a limited number of projects in Basingstoke exist to support those who may be homeless or vulnerably housed:

May Place House

May Place House is a 20 bedded direct access hostel. Funded by the Hampshire Supporting People Grant for homeless people in Basingstoke.

Target Population: Homeless people with a local contact in Basingstoke. In particular those who are involved in alcohol and substance misuse. From initial assessment, identification of health needs is a key concern and is used in conjunction with other identified needs to assess priority for accommodation at the hostel.

Who is involved?: Housing Link from the council, drugs service, probation service, local GP surgeries,

Phoenix (group and outreach work, Nexus (needle exchange), Housing associations e.g. Sanctuary Cargon, SAiL – for those with very chaotic lifestyles, service users.

Services Provided: temporary accommodation, support and referrals to address issues such as alcohol and substance misuse, signposting, support with life skills such as searching for employment and entering education.

Statistics: data collected in a 6 month period in 2010:

• Received approx 198 referrals and enquiries – 42 of which obtained a room at the hostel.

• Average length of stay 12 weeks.• Majority of residents were male, aged

between 30 and 39 years old.• 14 physical health needs and 22 mental health

needs identified.

Access to primary healthcare: has been highlighted as an issue by the Department of Health and Homeless Link. May Place House has an agreement with a local GP surgery – service users can access ‘emergency’ medical care for up to 4 weeks without registering at the surgery. The agreement is extended to those who enquire at the hostel but do not meet the priority criteria for accommodation at the hostel. Service users are also assisted in registering with a local GP once they have secured accommodation.

The Camrose Centre

Part of Trinity Winchester which has been running for approx 20 years. The Camrose Centre was set up in Basingstoke in January 2008. It is a charity drop-in centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am-2pm.

Target Population: The homeless and vulnerably housed in Basingstoke.

Who is involved?: Trinity Winchester, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Winchester Council, drugs and alcohol service, probation service, volunteers, the public, the service users.

Services Provided: advice and information, laundry and bathing facilities, clothing, sleeping bags, free breakfast and lunch, art therapy, cooking lessons, computer tuition, assistance with gaining qualifications and searching for employment, point for receiving post, referrals and signposting. All services are free.

Statistics (Unable to obtain specific data):• Approx 350 people per year visit the Centre.• Costs approx half a million pound per year to

run Trinity.• Approx a quarter of which is funded by the

local councils and the rest is funded through donations and grants.

Examples of success stories:• One service user and his son had been sleeping in their

car. With the help of the Camrose Centre they have now secured accommodation.

• Some people need time to build trust before they can start to work on their problems. The Camrose Centre allows this to happen by providing a friendly and safe environment. One long term visitor to the centre has recently started to open up and discuss his issues with staff there and is now working towards addressing his alcohol misuse.

• The centre also provides a safe environment where visitors can develop life skills. Several service users who have taken an interest in cooking have gone on to complete NVQ’s at the centre.

• In 2010 several of the service users grew flowers at the centre for the Eden Projects ‘Places of Change’ gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show. This gave them the opportunity to gain a qualification and build on their CV.The building used by the Camrose Centre is owned by Hampshire County Council and will only be available to

the charity until Christmas this year.