Our ‘Routes to Roots’ service for homeless hospital patients in Tower Hamlets has been nominated for a prestigious Andy Ludlow Award
Providence Row, in partnership with The London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the Royal London Hospital Homelessness Pathway Team, launched the commissioned service to support out of borough patients being treated at the Royal London Hospital who are at risk of rough sleeping on discharge from hospital
Support workers from Providence Row and the Pathway Team worked directly with patients approaching the end of their hospital stay, identifying where and in which borough they may be able to find services to help support them. They then supported the patient to return to their home borough and access housing assistance from their council. They also in some cases assisted patients from abroad to reconnect to their country of origin.
The project aimed to help 20 homeless people, but in the nine months since its launch, 26 people have been helped to find accommodation and services in their local area, either through being reconnected with family or being connected with their local council.
Providence Row’s Advice and Support Services Manager Leigh Andrews said: “In the past homeless people have been treated in hospital only to be discharged back into a very difficult and desperate life sleeping rough. This project aims to get ahead of this issue, working with the patient before this happens, to ensure they know their options and find the support they need before they leave hospital”
The Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards recognise innovative work and projects that tackle homelessness in London and beyond. The awards are funded by the London Housing Foundation, Shelter and all of the London boroughs. The awards are the country’s leading homelessness awards with prize money awarded to the organisations that demonstrate innovative and creative solutions for tackling homelessness in the capital.