Health and Homelessness Directory

Homelessness normally relates to a lack of shelter, but it often also means a lack of food and warmth.

This makes it difficult for homeless people, especially those sleeping rough, to have good health and well-being. Studies have shown that homeless people, particularly those who sleep rough:

• have poorer physical health, eg higher rates of tuberculosis and hepatitis, than the general population. They also have poor condition of feet and teeth, respiratory problems, skin diseases, injuries following violence, and infections
  
• have mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety
  
• are dependent on drug and alcohol, eg high misuse of heroin and crack cocaine.

In spite of the seriousness of their health problems, homeless people often have great difficulties in getting good and timely health care. For example, they are 40 times more likely to not be registered with a GP, yet four times more likely to use Accident and Emergency than the general population.

The Health and Homelessness Information Directory (below) allows you to search for a range of information on health, accommodation and support services available to people who are homeless or in need of housing in Wakefield. If you know the type of service you are looking for you can search the following sections which separate organisations according to the services they provide:

Section 1 - Health Services
Section 2 - Employment
Section 3 - Housing Services