Service Models
There are a number of service models that can be provided to meet the health needs of people experiencing street homelessness. The model should be informed by individuals with lived experience of street homelessness and be determined by local need and the barriers and challenges faced by them in accessing services should be addressed. For those housed in emergency accommodation during the pandemic, the window of opportunity to provide targeted interventions may be limited, therefore consideration should be given locally to how interventions can be mobilised in a timely and effective manner.
Services may be provided as in-reach within emergency accommodation, homeless hostels, day centres, as outreach on the street or within mainstream provision such as primary care. However, as those experiencing street homelessness can find accessing services challenging, providing them with support to access services through the use of peer workers has found to be successful (see Groundswell). Where mainstream services are used staff should be trained appropriately to ensure service users do not feel stigmatised. The Kings Fund report provides some useful examples of service models.