Dignity and Well Being Practical Approaches to Working

Dignity and Well- Being Practical Approaches to Working with Homeless People with Mental Health Problems

Housing Pillar “Practical approaches to working with homeless people with mental health problems”

Housing as a right • Immediacy - Access to shelter and Housing ASAP • Choice • Support • Quality of housing or shelter provided

Housing First as a Solution • Housing First Model - Housing without the necessary pre-conditions of being sober or compliant with medication • Dr Sam Tsemberis pioneered the model • Homes not hostels being the solution • Large Evidence base of research that the model works

Challenges with Implementing the Model §Finding the homes §Housing First, but not Housing only, for it to work it must the people we are supporting must have all the supports…

Continuity of Care in Housing • • • Shelter Hostels Transitional Housing Number of Homes on the one site Scattered site housing as proposed in Housing First model

Key learning of the Importance of Trauma Informed Care • Awareness that many of the people we work with have experienced trauma • Awareness of the impact of this Trauma • Designing servcies that at the very least don’t seek to re-traumatise

Key learning of the Importance of Trauma Informed Care • The importance of staff being competent in person centred intervention, active listening, empathy, “kindness” • Physical design of homes and even hostels are places people feel safe and are maintained to a high quality • We do this not just to have nice, clean, welcoming services but because it works in helping people recover from homelessness

Case Study: Ireland Sli Nua Apartments Athlone & Sean Mac. Dermott Street Dublin • Independent living but with visiting supports. People have safe homes that are well maintained. • People that are living there have spent many years being homeless and have mental health and addiction supports needs. • 8 out of 10 have manged to maintain their homes and not relapse into street homelessness

Dignity and Well-Being The Key to a secure and safe home is the key to other opportunties:

First Vice President of EU Parliament Mairead Mc. Guinness MEP meeting with and listening to Servcie Users in Midlands Simon Community

Thank you