tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79367181454779028.post153270468877496308..comments2023-10-18T13:49:04.792+01:00Comments on Virtual Lancaster News Blog: Lancaster district to benefit from new funding to help end rough sleepingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09111099866285188994noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79367181454779028.post-50499432795635977962013-01-29T15:55:38.908+00:002013-01-29T15:55:38.908+00:00No Second Night Out is good in principle, but thei...No Second Night Out is good in principle, but their previous reports have paid little attention to the complex causes of homelessness. It allows scant time for assessment of individual need, and focuses on one problem (pick one - mental health or alcohol, for example) rather than a holistic client centred package. It also emphasises sending people back to where they come from, risking further alienation. Figures quoting the success of the scheme leave out the fact that nearly 3/4 of homeless people in some centres are lost to follow up. The interim report published by No Second Night Out also criticises local mental health teams for not doing enough, as the N2NO teams were unprepared or lacking in qualification to deal with the high levels of mental health difficulties. I do hope they address these problems, or plan to, in Lancaster. Speaking as a psychologist who has worked in a specialist mental health team for homeless people in the East End of London, I'd much rather see a way homeless people could be helped within our community (access to the same doctors or mental health teams to promote social inclusion, for example) rather than sent away with the potential to be forgotten about. Good luck in this endeavour.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com