FACTS & FIGURES
The immediate picture is this:
The bigger picture is as follows:
Those who are roofless make up a very small proportion of 'homelessness'. Many times that number of people are houseless and many times the number of houseless people are experiencing insecure housing. For example:
Health Care Costs
The NHS spent approximately £85 million in 2010 on inpatient, outpatient & A&E attendances for homeless patients (note this DOES NOT include primary care). This equates to £2,115 per homeless person per year, which is 4x the general population spend of £525 per person per year (Department of Health, 2010).
These figures are likely to be large UNDER- estimates because it is very difficult to collect reliable data relating to homeless people. Some data systems may require an address, thereby excluding homeless patients instantly. Some people leave A&E after checking in but without being seen (again influencing reliability of data collected). Also, homeless groups are generally mobile and may present to different hospitals in any given year.
- The average life expectancy of a homeless person in England is between 43 and 47 years (Crisis Report, 2011).
- It is estimated that over 2,400 people will sleep without a roof over their head in England tonight. This is likely to be an underestimate due to the nature of how the figures are collected (HM Government, 2014).
- Over 40,000 people sleep in 'accommodation for the homeless' per night in England. This might be a church floor, charity hall or purpose built homeless hostel (Crisis Report, 2011).
The bigger picture is as follows:
Those who are roofless make up a very small proportion of 'homelessness'. Many times that number of people are houseless and many times the number of houseless people are experiencing insecure housing. For example:
- 112,070 households applied for homelessness assisstance from the council in 2013/14 (HM Government, 2014);
- 293,000 live with the immediate threat of violence. These people might need to attend a refuge or become homeless without notice in relation to that violence (Jones & Pleace, 2010);
- In 2010, 3,865 women were living in a refuge somehwere in England (Jones & Pleace, 2010);
- An unknown number of people are due to be released from various institutions such as prison with no address to return to (Jones & Pleace, 2010).
Health Care Costs
The NHS spent approximately £85 million in 2010 on inpatient, outpatient & A&E attendances for homeless patients (note this DOES NOT include primary care). This equates to £2,115 per homeless person per year, which is 4x the general population spend of £525 per person per year (Department of Health, 2010).
These figures are likely to be large UNDER- estimates because it is very difficult to collect reliable data relating to homeless people. Some data systems may require an address, thereby excluding homeless patients instantly. Some people leave A&E after checking in but without being seen (again influencing reliability of data collected). Also, homeless groups are generally mobile and may present to different hospitals in any given year.
A Legal, Moral & Professional Duty
The 2012 Health & Social Care Act declares that the secretary of state for health 'must have regard to the need to reduce inequalities between the people of England with respect to the benefits that they can obtain form the health service' (HM Government, 2012).
The 2013 NHS Constitution's first principle acknowledges 'a wider societal duty to promote equality through the service it provides and to pay particular attention to groups or sections of society where improvements in health and life expectancy are not keeping pace with the rest of the population' (NHS Constitution, 2013).
The NHS Outcomes Framework 2014/15 and the CCG Outcome Indicator Set 2014/15 set out specific areas for improvement and include:
The 2012 Health & Social Care Act declares that the secretary of state for health 'must have regard to the need to reduce inequalities between the people of England with respect to the benefits that they can obtain form the health service' (HM Government, 2012).
The 2013 NHS Constitution's first principle acknowledges 'a wider societal duty to promote equality through the service it provides and to pay particular attention to groups or sections of society where improvements in health and life expectancy are not keeping pace with the rest of the population' (NHS Constitution, 2013).
The NHS Outcomes Framework 2014/15 and the CCG Outcome Indicator Set 2014/15 set out specific areas for improvement and include:
- Domain 1: Reducing premature mortality (under 75), reducing emergency admissions for alcohol related liver disease and reducing premature death in people with mental illness (NHS Outcomes Framework 2014/15).
References
Crisis Report. Homelessness: A Silent Killer. 2011 - http://www.crisis.org.uk/data/files/publications/Homelessness%20-%20a%20silent%20killer.pdf
Department of Health - Office of the Chief Analyst. Healthcare for single homeless people. 2010 -http://www.qni.org.uk/docs/healthcare%20for%20single%20homeless%20people%20NHS.pdf
HM Government. Health & Social Care Act 2012 - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/138257/A1.-Factsheet-Overview-240412.pdf
HM Government. Statistics on statutory homelessness - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homelessness-statistics
Jones & Please (for Crisis). A Review of Single Homelessness (Table 2.3). 2010 - http://www.crisis.org.uk/data/files/publications/ReviewOfSingleHomelessness_Final.pdf
NHS Constituion 2013 (http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/NHSConstitution/Pages/Overview.aspx)
NHS Outcomes Framework At A Glance 2014/2015 - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/256457/At_a_glance_NHS_OF.pdf
HM Government. No Health Without Mental Health - a cross government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages. 2011 -https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/213761/dh_124058.pdf
Crisis Report. Homelessness: A Silent Killer. 2011 - http://www.crisis.org.uk/data/files/publications/Homelessness%20-%20a%20silent%20killer.pdf
Department of Health - Office of the Chief Analyst. Healthcare for single homeless people. 2010 -http://www.qni.org.uk/docs/healthcare%20for%20single%20homeless%20people%20NHS.pdf
HM Government. Health & Social Care Act 2012 - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/138257/A1.-Factsheet-Overview-240412.pdf
HM Government. Statistics on statutory homelessness - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homelessness-statistics
Jones & Please (for Crisis). A Review of Single Homelessness (Table 2.3). 2010 - http://www.crisis.org.uk/data/files/publications/ReviewOfSingleHomelessness_Final.pdf
NHS Constituion 2013 (http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/NHSConstitution/Pages/Overview.aspx)
NHS Outcomes Framework At A Glance 2014/2015 - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/256457/At_a_glance_NHS_OF.pdf
HM Government. No Health Without Mental Health - a cross government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages. 2011 -https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/213761/dh_124058.pdf