CMHTs' poor record on preventing homelessness

Mental Health Nursing,  Sep 1999  

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A report from Crisis says addressing mental health problems ca help prevent vulnerable people from becoming homeless

Community mental health teams have a poor record in identifying housing issues as priorities for their clients, and should be more assertive in trying to resolve such problems, says a new report from the homelessness charity, Crisis.

One in five people living on the streets has a severe mental health problem, but Pressure Points says mental illness often begins before homelessness and is frequently the direct cause of a person's loss of accommodation. The report quotes research which found that 94 per cent of homeless men and go per cent of women developed mental health problems before the onset of homelessness.

It condemns the `poor track record' of CM HTs in anticipating homelessness, saying: 'Regardless of whether the accommodation is provided within a specialist facility or is in the independent sector, the main challenge is to identify and rectify problems before they get to a stage where tenure is threatened.' The authors add: `There is a need for community mental health teams, social landlords and agencies providing specialised support to be more assertive when they see a problem developing.'

Crisis' chief executive Shaks Ghosh said: "There are one or two examples of effective flexible approaches but housing and mental health professionals throughout the UK must work together to end this vicious circle.'

The report marks the start of `Reaching Out, Crisis' campaign to promote long-term solutions for the homeless mentally ill.

Contact Crisis on telephone 0171 655 8300 or visit the website at: www.crisis.org.uk

Copyright Community Psychiatric Nurses Association Sep 1999
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