Homelessness agency Thames Reach and drugs agency Blenheim CDP formed a new partnership to help improve the lives of some of London's most vulnerable and socially excluded people.
The two have signed an agreement which recognises both organisations' autonomy but pledges them to work together in the best interests of the people using their services.
The partnership will ensure more integrated working between the housing and substance misuse sectors and is based on evidence that housing and support coordinated with specialist treatment services means better outcomes for service users.
The new partnership is committed to developing more innovative projects, bringing together the skills and knowledge from both organisations to maximise the support people will get.
Blenheim CDP and Thames Reach will share resources, knowledge and expertise and inform and influence policy within both the housing and substance misuse fields.
The two organisations already have a strong track record of providing high quality, integrated services. At the Brixton Step project in South London, Thames Reach provides support and accommodation to men reducing their dependence on hard drugs for whom a crucial part of the package is engagement with Blenheim CDP's Rise treatment programme.
Jeremy Swain, Thames Reach Chief Executive, said:
"In order to provide the highest quality service to men and women battling dependence on hard drugs, we must bring together the very best knowledge and expertise and I am delighted that we have formed this progressive partnership with Blenheim CDP.
"We have already shown what two organisations with complementary specialisms can achieve when they have a working relationship based on strong mutual respect. I look forward to this partnership transforming more lives over the coming years."
John Jolly, Blenheim CDP Chief Executive, said:
"There is a key link between poor housing, homelessness, unemployment and addiction. Our groundbreaking partnership with Thames Reach will provide a unique and exciting opportunity to develop integrated solutions to positively change the lives of some of the most socially excluded people in London.
"Blenheim CDP sees this as a long-term partnership, which I have no doubt will come to serve as a model of good practice for other charities to follow in the future."
Information Notes
Thames Reach is one of the UK's leading homelessness charities. Its ultimate goal is to end street homelessness. It runs services that help rough sleepers off the streets, provides accommodation including hostels and supported housing projects, and runs innovative schemes which help formerly homeless people develop new skills, re-engage with family and friends, and get back into work.
Blenheim CDP is one of London's leading drug treatment agencies. Its primary aim is to reduce drug related harm to both individuals and the wider community. It manages services across London, including direct access, primary stimulant and crack services as well as GP shared care schemes and day programmes. The organisation works to improve the health, well being and life opportunities of drug users by direct treatment, access to health and welfare services and education, training and employment options.
New figures show there has been a 15% rise in the overall number of rough sleepers in London in the last year - the equivalent of five new rough sleepers on London's streets every day.
London's largest charity for homeless people, St Mungo's, responded by warning that mental health problems amongst rough sleepers and vulnerable people has reached critical levels and needs urgent attention.
St Mungo's is concerned the Government's target of ending rough sleeping completely in the capital by 2012 may not be achieved unless more is done to break the link between mental ill health and homelessness.
The Charity, which is in its 40th anniversary year, said latest research amongst its clients showed 40% diagnosed with depression and 22% diagnosed with schizophrenia. St Mungo's believes this is just the tip of the iceberg and many more could be suffering with undiagnosed mental health issues.
The growing concerns about the complex needs of homeless people has prompted St Mungo's to use its July Action Week to launch a peer research study and a £1 million Mental Health Appeal.
During July St Mungo's launched Happiness Matters - a peer research study where people with experience of homelessness interviewed 103 people either sleeping rough, living in St Mungo's emergency shelters, hostels or high support housing, as well as some formerly homeless people now living in their own accommodation. A further 97 residents completed a questionnaire about the links between mental ill health and homelessness. Among other findings, this highlighted:
