People experiencing homelessness face significant health difficulties and inequalities with poorer outcomes than the general population. The average age of death for someone experiencing homelessness is 30 years lower than the general population. Health is often described as the contributing factor leading to homelessness; however, conditions are often exacerbated when experiencing homelessness. To place this into further context the current life expectancy of a male experiencing homelessness is 45, whilst female life expectancy is lower at 43. This compares to the general population of 79.5 for men and 83.1 for women.
A Homeless Health Needs Audit was undertaken in 2024 to provide vital insight into the health needs of people experiencing homelessness across Hounslow, the services they are accessing, and associated health outcomes.
- Understand the health needs and inequalities for anyone experiencing homelessness in Hounslow.
- Improve, expand on current service provision or design a new intervention that will support better health outcomes for anyone experiencing homelessness
- Improve the pathways to treatment for anyone experiencing homelessness.
- Understand where services are working for people and areas for change and development.
Current project deliverables are:
- Undertake a review of the current health offer in Hounslow for anyone experiencing homelessness with the aim to close any gaps.
- Implement a working group with key partners to assist in the design of new interventions to tackle the inequalities identified in the Homeless Health Needs Audit.
- Design and implement a roaming Health Hub offer for anyone experiencing homelessness, proving a one stop shop approach to health.
- Improve current pathways to health care for the multiple disadvantages by designing a tasking group with key partners including GPs, Housing, Addiction services, Mental Health teams, social care and outreach services.
- Undertake a review of the homelessness deaths in Hounslow, that will provide learning opportunities and assist in informing future interventions to prevent further deaths.
- Develop and introduce a training package for services, highlighting health support opportunities and reducing stigma currently faced by people experiencing homelessness.