Working with hospitals to support homeless patients

Porchlight, the charity Pathway and staff at QEQM Hospital in Margate have been trialling support to stop people returning to the streets when they’re discharged. It’s been so successful that it’s now being extended and rolled out to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

When someone who is homeless is discharged from hospital they often return to the streets and the cycle of poor health continues. Under this scheme, Porchlight works with a GP, nurses and the charity Pathway to ensure patients with nowhere to go receive support with housing, mental health, money and drug and alcohol misuse once they leave hospital.

Many of the problems that people experiencing homelessness face can make their health worse, including limited access to health care. Three quarters of people who were rough sleeping when they entered this trial were discharged from hospital into safe, secure accommodation.

Michelle's story

Michelle was admitted to hospital following a family relationship breakdown. She faced being homeless when she was discharged.

Our hospital scheme gave Michelle support to ensure she wouldn’t end up on the streets or sofa surfing. She’s now living in a place of her own where she can rebuild her life.

“I felt stressed and nervous about my situation but my Porchlight support worker, Lorraine, was there to reassure me,” she says.