Clean break

The connection between drug misuse and homelessness is strong. The two problems can cause and reinforce each other. Tackling one without at the same time addressing the other can lead to failure. Despite this, agencies and commissioners trying to support homeless drug users often work in isolation from each other.

Clean break focuses on how housing and treatment services can work together more effectively to support treatment outcomes and reduce the risk of homelessness among drug users engaging in treatment.

The project was developed in response to the frustrations of Homeless Link members who all too often see the efforts of homeless people going into treatment going to waste when no suitable accommodation is available.

With funding from the London Housing Foundation, London borough of Newham's substance misuse partnership, Safer Islington Partnership and the Housing Corporation, Homeless Link commissioned Tribal consultancy to carry out the piece of action research in three London boroughs - Newham, Islington and Havering - to see if investment could be used more effectively if both the housing and drugs sectors could work closer together.

The findings and main recommentations of the research are available in the Clean break research summary.

Download a copy of the full report.

Toolkit

An essential part of the project is the online toolkit, which has been developed to assist commissioners, service providers and strategic leads for drug and housing services create more integrated housing and care pathways for drug users engaging in treatment services.