In Edinburgh 34% of homelessness applications cited mental health as a support need in 2020/21.

In Edinburgh 34% of homelessness applications cited mental health as a support need in 2020/21.

St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity funds Rowan Alba’s Psychology in Hostels, in Edinburgh, a project that will embed a clinical psychologist in two supported accommodation homes to deliver targeted mental health support to 45 people with long-term experience of homelessness and trauma.

WHY THE PROJECT IS SO IMPORTANT

WHY THE PROJECT IS SO IMPORTANT

Rowan Alba’s Psychology in Hostels project will fill a gap that currently exists in the provision of psychological care to help people who have experienced homelessness and trauma in Edinburgh, prevent repeat homelessness, and reduce demands on other services such as health or housing. 

8% of the Scottish population has experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. Poverty is the main driver of homelessness and childhood poverty is a key predictor of homelessness in later life. 

Specifically, though, domestic abuse continues to be the main cause of women’s homelessness and is expected to rise. Scottish Women’s Aid calculates that only one in six women making a homeless application as a result of domestic abuse will be able to get a space when they need it. 

And, mental health continues to be the prevalent support need for homeless households. In Edinburgh, 34% of homeless applications cite mental health as a support need in 2020/21. In Scotland as a whole the figure is 27%. 

This is why the psychological support provided by Rowan Alba’s partnership with the NHS and Edinburgh Council is so needed. With such a huge number of people experiencing homelessness are also experiencing mental ill-health and trauma related to domestic violence, the targeted mental-health support provided is vital. 

THE IMPACT ROWAN ALBA’S PSYCHOLOGY IN HOSTELS MAKES

THE IMPACT ROWAN ALBA’S PSYCHOLOGY IN HOSTELS MAKES

The project fills a gap that currently exists in the provision of psychological care to individuals who have experiences trauma and homelessness in Edinburgh 

  • To provision aims to prevent repeat homelessness for 45 homeless people (15 x 3 years) transitioning to new accommodation by, increasing access to psychological care 
  • Improved mental health leads to more settled lifestyle and maintaining accommodation 
  • Improved mental health leads to more settled behaviour and reduction in offending with less time spent in prison, police cells, limiting risk of losing accommodation 
  • Improved sense of self-worth and ability to form relationships leads to acceptance of available support with independent living skills and finances to help maintain a home 

The project will reduce demands on other services including health, housing and criminal justice through, increased provision of psychological care to homeless individuals   

  • Reduce demands on other services 
  • Improved mental health leads to less risk-taking behaviour and crisis health situations 
  • Increased trust of care services leads to acceptance of community support with harm reduction and health leading to less time involved with police, prison or hospital 

Sign up to hear more

Give us your details and we’ll keep you updated with all our latest news.

Close Menu