Homeless - guidance
Guidance sections provide a space for resources that help convert principles or policy into action. The resources are listed alphabetically by author/issuing body and then by date.
You might also like to refer to the policy and agencies and communities sections for further information on homeless people.
Some of the resources below are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.
Charities Evaluation Services (2003) Managing outcomes a guide for homelessness organisations
This guide is designed to support homelessness agencies to integrate outcome management into their day-to-day work and build on the effectiveness of their services.
Communities and Local Government (2006) Hospital admission and discharge: people who are homeless or living in temporary or insecure accommodation
This guidance document, issued jointly with the Department of Health, aims to support hospitals, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), local authorities and the voluntary sector working in partnership to develop an effective admission and discharge protocol for people who are homeless or living in temporary or insecure accommodation. The overarching aim is to ensure that no one is discharged from hospital to the streets or inappropriate accommodation.
Communities and Local Government (2005) Tackling homelessness amongst ethnic minority households - a development guide
This guide aims to assist local authorities and their partner agencies in the development of inclusive, evidence-based and cost-effective homelessness services for their local ethnic minority populations. This document is related to the ODPM-commissioned research on the causes of homelessness amongst ethnic minority populations.
Council for the Homeless (2008) A guide to publications on homelessness in Northern Ireland
Brings together the main sources of current and relevant information for those working in the field of homelessness across Northern Ireland providing information related to research, legislation and practice in the field. It is intended to be an evolving document and will be regularly updated.
DH Care Networks: Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN): Homelessness
This section within the Housing Learning and Improving Network area focuses on a number of specific topics which include mental health and homelessness and older people and homelessness.
There is also a section on health and rough sleeping which provides resources to support action 5 of the report 'No one left out: communities ending rough sleeping' published by HM Government in November 2008. Action 5 is about "Improving access to health and social care services for people with multiple needs who are sleeping rough or are in hostels". See Housing Learning and Improving Network: Health.
Housing rights information
This website provided by the Chartered Institute of Housing aims to provide accurate information to recent arrivals and to advisers about entitlements to housing, based on people’s immigration status. The information is organised according to category of new arrival. Categories include refugees, people with social care needs and people fleeing domestic violence.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2008) Findings: Youth homelessness in the UK
These findings are based on a study, which is the first UK wide review of youth homelessness for a decade, exploring the effectiveness of recent policy developments on tackling youth homelessness.
The full report (PDF 3.69KB) by Deborah Quilgars et al is also made available by the Joseph Rowntree website.
National Social Inclusion Programme (2007) Getting through: access to mental health services for people who are homeless or living in temporary or insecure accommodation (PDF 361.01KB)
The purpose of this good practice guide is to help mental health practitioners and housing and homelessness practitioners improve access to mental health services for people who are homeless or living in temporary or insecure accommodation by identifying practical solutions and models of good practice, based on information from mental health and homelessness services around the country. Examples of good practice are highlighted throughout.
NHS Confederation (2012) Mental health and homelessness: planning and delivering mental health services for homeless people
This briefing sets out the policy context and examines what considerations need to be made when planning, designing and delivering mental health services for homeless people. It also highlights examples of good practice. See also the NHS Confederation publication Housing and mental health.
Northern Ireland Housing Executive (2006) Housing, health and well-being: innovation, practice and partnerships (PDF 1.9MB)
This charts the progress made against the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's health and housing strategy and action plan. It highlights what has worked well and showcases examples of innovative practice.
Queen’s Nursing Institute (2010) Improving healthcare for homeless people
This resource was initially designed to meet the overall goals of the Homeless Health Initiative (HHI) piloted by the QNI from 2007 to 2010 to improve the healthcare of homeless people. The resource was developed into a guided interactive learning pathway to provide support and training to practitioners. The package is arranged in six modules.
A new ‘Opening Doors’ project will provide resources for community nurses and other health professionals working with the homeless to enhance and develop health care for their service users.
Shelter: Policy library
In this section of the Shelter website it is possible to search across reports, factsheets, briefings and policy consultation responses published by Shelter. Searching can be done by subject such as 'homelessness' as well as by document type and can be limited to England or Scotland.
Shelter (2006) Good practice report: New directions: supporting street homeless service users with complex needs (PDF 279.17KB)
The 'New directions' report which is in two volumes, describes the work of agencies that are seeking to provide radical and innovative methods of reducing street homelessness illustrating that a diverse range of solutions is needed. Good practice examples of projects that work with people from the street, through to resettlement are featured.
Volume 2 (2008) (PDF 279.81KB).
St Mungo's (2008) Homelessness: it makes you sick
Research undertaken by St Mungo's in London focussing on interactions between clients and primary health services, has revealed "a substantial need for high quality health services". The findings have led to the development of a health strategy by St Mungo's.
St Mungo's (2008) St Mungo's health strategy for homeless people 2008-11
St Mungo's is essentially a social care organisation and straddles intersections between primary care, public health and health inequalities. This strategy aims to resolve some of the tensions resulting from this. It aims to further develop partnership working and sets out key points, changes and priorities, and presents detailed action plans. Rough sleepers are a priority and the document includes a healthcare pathway for this group as well as specific strategies for alcohol and mental health related problems.
Welsh Assembly Government (2004) Consulting with homeless people
Good practice advice note written to help public and voluntary sector organisations in Wales consult with homeless people on service planning, service delivery and identifying gaps in services.