"The law states that you are homeless if you:

You are threatened with homelessness if you are likely to become homeless within two months."

https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=17283

Social isolalation and loneliness are not the same. it is possible for someone to be socially isolated but not lonely, and vice versus. There are reportedly high rates of loneliness in care homes, dispite an individual multiply daily interactions with both carers and other residents. 

Cacioppo, 2008 states “…an individual may be lonely in a crowd, socially contented while alone.”

References

Davidson, S. & Rossall, P. 2015.  Evidence Review: Loneliness in Later Life. Age UK [online]. Veiwed 23rd November 2018. Available from https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/reports-and-briefings/health--wellbeing/rb_june15_lonelines_in_later_life_evidence_review.pdf
Cacioppo, J; Patrick, W (2008) Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection. New York: Norton 

 

 

If you are homeless or staying in temporary accommodation you can use the specialist Homelessness Health Services based at Hunter Street. These services will give support during your homelessness crisis and then help you move on to use community-based services when it is appropriate.

Our Homelessness Health & Resource Services run from a purpose built unit. With clinic and treatment rooms, it is a base for the Homeless GP Practice and many of the staff who support health services for homeless people.

Contact address:
Homelessness Health & Resource Services
55 Hunter Street
Glasgow G4 0UP
Phone 0141 553 2803 

People experiencing homelessness are known to have complex health needs, which are often compounded by poor access to healthcare. This study investigates the individual-level factors associated with access to care and healthcare utilization among homeless people in England. 

Rough sleepers were much less likely to be registered with a general practitioner (GP) 

In a survey of  2505 individuals participated in the survey. 

 The majority of participants were young (55.4% aged 35 years or younger) and male (69.2%). Most were single homeless in accommodation (76.9%). 

Mental health problems were particularly common: 85.5% of participants reported having current mental health problems and 42.1% reported that they had been formally diagnosed with a mental health disorder. 

Over the previous 6 months, 26% of participants had been refused registration with either a GP or a dental service. 

 Journal of public health, volume 39 issue 1, March 2017 

·         The displacement of people refers to the forced movement of people from their locality or their own environment and occupations. 

·         It is a form of social change caused by  a range of factors ie armed conflict 

·         Natural disasters, famine, development and economic changes may also be a cause of displacement 

 

Political turbulence in many regions of the world has increased the number of displaced people fleeing complex emergencies and disasters. They often end up in large camps where environmental health measures are insufficient.

Displaced people include internally displaced people (people who remain in their own countries) as well as refugees (people who cross international borders). 
 

Environmental Health in Emergencies [2018] Displaced People [online] World Health Organisation [viewed 23/11/2018] Available from; https://www.who.int/environmental_health_emergencies/displaced_people/en/

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation [2017] Displaced person/ Displacement [online] UNESCO [viewed 23/11/2018] Available from: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/international-migration/glossary/displaced-person-displacement/ 

To apply for asylum in the UK the person should apply upon entering the country or if they feel it is unsafe to travel back to their home country due to fear or persecution. This may be for several reasons including race, religion and political opinion. (UK Government) 

Terms (Refugee council) 

·         A refugee if their claim is successful and they are able to live in the UK 

·         An Asylum Seeker is a person who has submitted a claim to the government but has not yet had it accepted. 

·         Refused asylum seeker is someone who has submitted a claim but it has been refused and they are to return to their own country however not everyone does this voluntarily and needs to be more forcefully removed.  

Many are lead to believe many refugees live within Europe however for example one in six people in Lebanon is a refugee.  The UN’s Refugee Agency estimates that 85% of the world’s refugees are sheltered by developing countries.
It is estimated that there has been around 68000 people arrived into Europe by boat. The UK received an estimated 4% of the total asylum claims within Europe. (Refugee Council). In the first 6 months of 2018 there was only 29% of claims for asylum approved by the government, many people went through the courts and 38% of asylum seekers were successful in their claim.

Although often all brought together under the umbrella terms of ‘Gypsies & Travellers’ there is a huge range of unique cultures, belief systems and histories within these groups, including Romany Gypsies, Irish Travellers and Scottish Gypsy Travellers. 

There is significant misunderstanding of these communities that is founded by long running myths and stereotypes. As a result, Traveller groups often are socially excluded or face marginalisation. Contemporary research suggests that Traveller groups have suffered the most discrimination and are the largest 'stateless' minority ethnic group within Europe.

The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 15% of any population will be persons with disabilities, with potentially higher proportions among populations that have fled war, persecution or natural disaster. Hence, there may be over six million persons with disabilities displaced worldwide. (Forced Migration review, www.fmreview.org/25th-anniversary/pearce). 

“Persons with disabilities are often hidden in communities and may not have access to the same assistance programmes as others, as a result of stigma and discrimination or physical barriers.” 

Area that contribute to the vulnerability consist of: 

·         Persons’ with disabilities have diverse impairments, skills and capacities, which intersect with equally diverse contextual situations and societal attitudes, resulting in varying degrees of vulnerability and marginalisation, making one single approach to meeting their needs unfeasible. 

·         Displaced persons with disabilities may be more vulnerable than other community members. 

·         Skills and capacity of persons with disabilities remain one of the greatest overlooked resources in humanitarian practice. 

·         Language Barriers 

·         Knowledge of resources such as healthcare, support, housing and work may lead to hopelessness and giving up resulting in poor health due to internal and external factors. 

·         Stigma of being different may lead to becoming scared of others Judging the. 

·         Being in a new country and different setting may lead to depression, sense of “no worth”. 

·        Being alone with no support from others may lead to mental Health issues. 

“Displaced persons suffer significantly higher rates of mortality than the general population. They also remain at high risk of physical attack, sexual assault and abduction, and frequently are deprived of adequate shelter, food and health services.”
(United Nations Human Rights, office of high commissioners, www.ohchr.org/en/issues/idpersons/pages/issues.aspx) 

Literacy, numeracy and other academic achievements are still seen as the key markers of success, yet young people are facing unprecedented pressures in their lives, which are contributing to mental health problems including anxiety, depression, self-harm and eating disorders.

With more and more young people struggling to cope with their mental health, now is the time to put emotional wellbeing at the heart of what children learn in schools.

Asylum seekers can be vulnerable for a number of reasons, other than arriving from a different culture, with possible language barriers, they may have little knowledge about their rights within the new country, have physical and mental health issues caused by previous experiences (e.g. Torture).  

Healthcare workers, particularly “frontline” staff such as ambulance staff who may be more likely to have contact with asylum seekers and other vulnerable groups should be alert to vulnerability and potential physical and mental health problems in those who are vulnerable. 

“Many UK general practices struggle to manage the rights and needs of refugees and asylum seekers to access the NHS, and may be unwilling to register them as patients because of confusion about the need for identification papers and other documentation”  Royal College of Practitioners 

http://www.rcgp.org.uk/policy/rcgp-policy-areas/asylum-seekers-and-vulnerable-migrants.aspx 

 

“The majority of asylum seekers live in poverty and suffer from poor health and hunger.” Gherson Immigration 

https://www.gherson.com/blog/vulnerable-asylum-seekers 

 

Most asylum seekers spend months, or years waiting for Home office to assess claims and cannot work during this time, having an allowance of £35 – £37 per week 

“Certain groups of migrants are particularly vulnerable to potential health needs because of their experiences either before, during or after migration.” Gov. UK 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vulnerable-migrants-migrant-health-guide 

 

Some useful agencies/charities may include 

The Refugee Council works directly with refugees and asylum seekers and supporting them to rebuild their lives. 

 

The Children’s Society Refugee Toolkit informs practitioners about the needs, rights and entitlements of refugee and asylum seeker young carers and their families. 

 

The Bridges Programmes support the social, educational and economic integration of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants living in Glasgow, Scotland. 

 

Asylum Aid gives free legal advice and represents the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people seeking asylum in the UK with their asylum applications. 

 

Doctors of the World offers free and confidential support to vulnerable migrants, whatever their immigration status and wherever they live in the UK. Their drop-in clinic is based in East London. 

A significant barrier to accessing healthcare for homeless people is not attending or having access to a general practice. A review of three in-depth studies of single homelessness found that 60% of rough sleepers had had no contact with a GP for more than five years (Crane and Warnes 2001). 

Homeless Link (2014) found 7% of participants in their study had been refused access to a GP in the previous 12 months. One reason for this was not having identification, despite there being no regulatory requirement for someone to prove identity, address, immigration status or NHS number to register with a GP 

In addition, Homeless Link (2014) found that 90% of homeless people were registered with GPs. However, participants still reported not receiving help with their health problems. It might be that they found it difficult to engage with formal services 

 

evidence & practice / interprofessional working, 26 January 2018 

BIGGS, S., MANTHORPE, J., TINKER, A., DOYLE, M. & ERENS, B., (2009) Mistreatment of older people in the United Kingdom: Findings from the first national prevalence study.  Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect. 21(1) pp.1-14

VICTIM SUPPORT, 2017. Victim support policy statement - fraud. Victim Support.  Avaliable from: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/more-us/policy-and-research/reports