Homelessness: Not Just a Housing Issue
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Presenter: Ms Annie Catanzariti1
1Metropolitan Youth Health Service (MY Health), Christies Beach, Australia
Date of Presentation 27th October 2016
Abstract:
Aim
Improve the health and wellbeing of young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the inner southern areas of metropolitan Adelaide through innovative, holistic, comprehensive and culturally appropriate clinical health services.
Method
Partnerships and formal agreements with local homelessness services and schools;
Genuine collaboration with the local Aboriginal community and Aboriginal workers;
Dedicated outreach clinic and team comprising of a Nurse Practitioner, Aboriginal Health Worker and Social Worker.
Results
Preliminary findings indicate increased access to health services, functional and disease state improvement, increased trust and connectedness with the wider community and the delivery of services to clients not formerly accessible.
Conclusions
Young people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness have higher rates of mental illness, infectious diseases, sexually transmitted infection, respiratory illnesses, lack of preventative and routine care, inappropriate and unsupervised use of medications and are highly likely to be the targets of violence and exploitation. The formal set up of traditional health services are generally inaccessible to this population with barriers including the lack of trust in government services, historical systemic abuse by government agencies, the inflexibility of mainstream clinics as well as practical considerations such as lack of funds, transport, knowledge and support. The aim of this project was to optimize access to health services by providing culturally appropriate and sensitive, flexible outreach in order to access and engage with this highly vulnerable group. Results show an increased access to health services and delivery of services to clients not formally accessible.