Director of Public Health Annual Report

Health Inequalities and Homelessness

You are invited to listen to these Barnsley residents’ stories and consider the insights they’ve provided. You can then take meaningful action to make Barnsley a place of possibilities for all.

You can also read the full DPH annual report 2024 - 'Health inequalities and homelessness'

Recorded experiences

Alan's lived experience

Alan's story is one of resilience and hope, a testament to the power of seeking help and the importance of support systems. People can overcome even the most challenging obstacles with the right resources and a strong will and build a brighter future.

Listen to the interview with Alan.

Andrew's lived experience

After years of struggles with substance misuse, trauma, and bereavement, leading to resistance and repeated setbacks; continuous support from a Barnsley outreach worker led to a breakthrough when Andrew moved into supported housing. His cooperation with probation, exploration of volunteering opportunities, and significant positive changes indicate remarkable progress and a hopeful outlook for his future.

Listen to the interview with Andrew.

Other lived experiences

The report includes stories of other residents who have experienced homelessness and inequalities in their lives. Their names have been changed for privacy.

Lived experience case study 1: From brink of homelessness to stable ground
Lived experience case study 2: From displacement to independence: A refugee success story
Lived experience case study 3: A second chance: Tenancy support empowers vulnerable client

Our recommendations

Address stigma

Embrace our shared humanity by listening to peoples’ stories and including them in work programs. Adopt a co-productive approach when working with people who experience homelessness.

Housing

Prioritise the development of policies and programs that address the underlying social and economic factors that drive homelessness.

Improve early intervention

All services should consider how to intervene early to reduce homelessness. For example, healthcare staff should refer to the housing team as soon as possible.

Improve healthcare service integration

Continue to develop healthcare services tailored to the needs of people experiencing homelessness. This includes immunisation, screening, mental health support, addiction treatment, and general medical care.

Services to consider inequalities in all their work

Council services to pilot a suite of tools designed to identify, measure and mitigate against inequalities.

Conclusion

This report highlights the challenges and opportunities for tackling health inequalities and homelessness in Barnsley. It shows that homelessness is a complex and multidimensional issue that affects not only people but also communities and society as a whole. Homelessness is both a cause and a consequence of health inequalities, which are rooted in social and economic factors. Therefore, addressing health inequalities and homelessness requires a holistic and integrated approach that involves multiple sectors and stakeholders.

Innovative and collaborative initiatives are taking place in Barnsley to prevent and support homelessness and improve health outcomes. These include the decentralised approach to commissioning decisions and resources, the role of the area councils and the place-based partnership, and the work of the homeless team and other services. These initiatives demonstrate Barnsley's commitment and vision to be a place where everyone can thrive and achieve their potential.

However, there is still room for improvement and further development noted in the report's recommendations. There is also a need for more involvement and empowerment of people with lived experience of homelessness and additional awareness and education about the issues among the Barnsley residents and professionals. Finally, there is a need for increased coordination and alignment of policies and strategies at the local, regional, and national levels to ensure a coherent and consistent response to health inequalities and homelessness.

Health inequalities and homelessness are not inevitable or insurmountable problems. They can be prevented and reduced through effective and collaborative actions that address these issues' root causes and drivers. Barnsley has the potential and the ambition to be a leader and an example in this field, and this report aims to contribute to this goal by providing insights and recommendations for future action.

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