ROOF Blog

The problem of homeless people sleeping on Britain’s streets may have been transferred to hospitals, according to a new study. Although the government claims that the number of people sleeping rough has fallen by three-quarters since 1988, figures obtained from 173 hospital trusts under the Freedom of Information Act reveal mounting pressure on the NHS from the homeless. In England, a homeless person is admitted to hospital for problems related to drugs or alcohol every three hours. A total of 13,872 people with ‘no fixed abode’ were admitted to hospital over the last five years for drug or alcohol misuse. Total drug and alcohol related admissions of homeless people have risen by 117 per cent since 2004.

A Salvation Army report has warned a generation of young people are binge drinking to such an extent they are at risk of social exclusion and homelessness. The report, Seeds of Exclusion 2009, says it is concerned for a new generation of young homeless adults who appear to be self-medicating with drugs and alcohol. Relationship breakdown and lack of supportive relationships are cited as the main reasons for homelessness. However, the research indicated that 59 per cent of those questioned reported an alcohol addiction, rising to 66 per cent among the 18- to 25-year-olds.

The government will fail in its target to end rough sleeping by 2012 if it continues to ignore services for homeless people with mental health problems, Crisis and St Mungo’s warned today. A survey for St Mungo’s disclosed that as many as 85 per cent of rough sleepers were in poor mental health. Women, refugees and asylum seekers, the BME community and those who mistreat drugs and alcohol are particularly affected.

FRANK, the national drugs information service, has launched a real-time text messaging service for young people where they can get advice and information from trained personnel on drugs and drug-related issues. It has scope to reach more than 6.5 million 11- to 18-year-olds across the country.