Webinar series on Health and Homelessness
FEANTSA organised a series of webinars to explore the connection between heath and homelessness. In these online events, we invited experts on health and homelessness who have conducted research at the intersection of these areas or/and have implemented successful practices in removing barriers for people facing homelessness to access to healthcare.
Webinar I: Health Inequalities of people Experiencing Homelessness
People who experience homelessness generally face elevated levels of physical and mental health issues, along with a higher risk of premature mortality,[1] compared to those with stable housing. Poor health can both lead to and worsen homelessness, while the lack of adequate housing significantly impacts individuals' physical and mental well-being. Homelessness is also characterized by profound social exclusion and marginalisation, which directly affect the health of those living in precarious conditions, emergency accommodation, or sleeping rough. These individuals often encounter substantial barriers to accessing health services and face obstacles to recovery, further exacerbating health inequalities.
The webinar explored the connection between homelessness and health inequalities, with a focus on health outcomes and service accessibility. Additionally, it examined innovative strategies to overcome these barriers.
Goals:
- Examine the connection between Homelessness and Health Inequalities. To provide a deeper understanding of how homelessness impacts physical and mental health, leading to significant health disparities.
- Identify and discuss the barriers and facilitators in accessing health services for people facing homelessness, within the European context.
- Discuss and share innovative approaches and strategies aimed at overcoming barriers to healthcare access for people experiencing homelessness.
- Offer an opportunity for participants to share their experiences and services and co-create solutions for problems identified.
- Barriers and facilitators to health care access for people experiencing homelessness in four European countries: an exploratory qualitative study
Speaker: Tobias Fragner, Medical University of Viena, Center of Public Health
- How to overcome the barriers? - Fieldwork experiences in different countries
Part one: Crescer, Portugal
Speaker: TBC
Part two: Infirmiers de Rue, Belgium
Speaker: Pierre Ryckmans
Part three: Budapest Methodological Centre of Social Policy and its Institutions, Hungary
Speaker: Istvan Dande
- Q&A session
Webinar II: Homelessness and Tuberculosis
Despite ongoing initiatives and programs by the World Health Organization (WHO) to eliminate it, tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health challenge. Vulnerable populations, particularly people experiencing homelessness, are disproportionately affected, facing higher incidence rates and significant barriers to healthcare access for detection and treatment.[1] To meet WHO’s 2030[2] target for TB eradication, it is crucial to address these barriers. The upcoming webinar will explore the connection between homelessness and tuberculosis, focusing on the specific challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness and highlighting innovative strategies to improve access to care.
Goals:
- Build knowledge on TB and its relationship with homelessness.
- Identifying and discussing some of the common challenges that people experiencing homelessness face on accessibility to screening, diagnosis, and treatment of TB.
- Identifying and discussing interventions that facilitate treatment adherence, to avoid the developing of resistant forms of the disease.
- Provide successful examples of services that work with TB and homelessness.
- Offer an opportunity for participants to share their experiences and services and co-create solutions for problems identified.
- What’s Tuberculosis and its impact on people experiencing homelessness?
Speaker: Raquel Duarte, ISPUP, President of the Europe Region Officers International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, ECDC.
- Insights from fieldwork- Good Practices
1. Ares do Pinhal, Portugal
Website: ARES DO PINHAL - Ares do Pinhal
Speaker: Carolina Marquez, Team Manager
2. Find and Treat service-NHS, UK
Website: Find & Treat service: University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Speaker: Al Story, Phd
3. Q&A Session
[1] FEANTSA press release (2015) Commit to Eradicating TB and Health Inequalities: FEANTSA Message to Riga European Ministerial Conference on Tuberculosis
[2] https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosis-programme/the-end-tb-strategy
Webinar III: Homelessness and Mental Health
The relationship between homelessness and mental health is complex and deeply interconnected. Research shows that people experiencing homelessness have a significantly higher prevalence of mental health problems. The lack of safe, stable shelter can severely impact their psychological well-being. With mental health remaining a priority on the EU agenda,[1] FEANTSA raises awareness on the need to ensure a focus on marginalised communities in upcoming initiatives in this area, particularly with regards to the significance of housing as a social determinant of health, especially Mental Health.[2]
To ensure a truly comprehensive and effective approach to mental health at a European level, the needs and access of people experiencing homelessness must be considered. The upcoming webinar aims to contribute to this conversation by addressing topics such as the specific needs and challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness as well as good support practices.
Goals:
- Built knowledge on the bidirectional relationship between homelessness and mental health.
- Identifying and mapping some of the common challenges that people experiencing homelessness face on accessibility to mental health services, diagnosis, and treatment.
- Provide examples of innovative services that provide mental healthcare for people experiencing homelessness.
- Offer an opportunity for participants to share their experiences and services and co-create solutions for problems identified.
Mental Health Europe, Brussels
Speaker: Fatima Awil, Policy and Knowledge Officer
Website: Mental Health Europe: Advocacy & Support for Well-being
Research- On the Situation of People Living in Homelessness and with Psychiatric Illness and Mental Disorder in Budapest, and their Support Systems.
Speaker: István Sziklai, University of Hungary
Website: Istvan Sziklai, PhD | ELTE Faculty of Social Sciences
Neunerhaus, Vienna
Speaker: Paula Reid, Research and Innovation Officer
Website: Home - neunerhaus
Housing First- Hogares para la Autonomía and Mental Health, Madrid
Speaker: Jose Carillo, Housing Support Technician
Website: Inicio - HOGAR SÍ; Con las personas, por el derecho a la vivienda - Provivienda
Q&A SESSION
Useful links
- Evaluación de Housing First - Soluciones al sinhogarismo
- Guidance on community mental health services: Promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches
- Addressing the intersection of homelessness and mental health: A call for a psychological approach and comprehesive solutions By Fatima Awil, Policy & Knowledge Officer, Mental Health Europe and Gina Delaney, Development Officer, Mental Health Ireland
- MHE-Psychosocial-model-Toolkit.pdf
- Summer issue 2024 FEaNTSA Health & Homelessness Newsletter