Posted on: 31 January 2019

To say rough sleeping and homelessness are major problems doesn’t do justice to their complexity.

In Westminster, the Council and CNWL Joint Homelessness Team (JHT) provide a mental health service, recovery-focused, from the street to stable accommodation, so that those who are unwilling or unable to use mental health services receive the same health, housing and social care as the housed population.

This team gave a presentation to CNWL’s Council of Governors meeting on 18 December 2018 and impressed everyone with their approach and compassion.  The Governors asked for more information about their work.

Dr Hugh Hall and Emily Cooper Senior Nurse practitioner spoke at the meeting. The team works with Churches, Salvation Army, St Mungo’s and women’s groups to identify those who might benefit from the Trust services.

This is a specialist service and this article talks about their work, the approach they need to take and how their compassionate work for this group of vulnerable people helps many, but not all – as you will see, there are frustrations but there are also compensations – this is a team that makes a big difference.

It includes five case studies, and you can read it here: JHT Outreach – Quarterly Report (Q3 2018) - need link

Members of the Joint Homelessness Team

Dan Jones and Thea Fitch from the Joint Homelessness Team