Changes Plus are pleased to be involved in ongoing discussions with The All Party Parliamentary Group, regarding support provided to the homeless and notably those with complex needs during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the lockdown began, more than 14,500 people who were on the streets or at risk of sleeping rough have been given emergency accommodation. This has necessitated huge efforts from local authorities who were given additional funding from the government to address this.
An example of this response has been the Homeless Hotel Drug and Alcohol Support Service (HDAS-London), the first pan-London commissioned drug and alcohol service providing alcohol, tobacco and drug support to those individuals experiencing rough sleeping temporarily housed in hotel accommodation across the capital. The initiative brings together all the treatment providers in London and provides a single point of contact for professionals working in hotels where someone needs support.
Dr Emmert Roberts will address the group on this important work. Dr Emmert is an MRC Clinical Research Fellow in the National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) and Honorary Specialist Registrar in Substance Misuse Psychiatry at the South London and the Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust. He has a strong interest in substance misuse, co-morbidity and the overlap of physical and mental health conditions.
Dr Emmert will present on the crucial work that HDAS are currently doing, amongst other issues. It will be a chance to reflect on the opportunities presented by the pandemic to take action on rough sleeping and support people with complex needs to get off the streets and the possibility for solutions in the longer term.