Barriers to support for people experiencing problem substance use and homelessness: Reading list

The second webinar in our series on homelessness and substances use was presented by Dr Hannah Carver who focused on the different barriers that people experience when trying to access support and the evidence base for different interventions to address these barriers. Here, is a collection of articles on the subject. You can view a recording of the webinar here.

1) In this research, conducted by Dr Hannah Carver and colleagues, the views of people who are homeless on what they believe makes effective substance use treatment are analysed. The researchers use the results to develop a new model that highlights the components of positive substance use treatment from the service user’s perspective.

2) This systematic review, which explores findings from a number of other reviews, specifically looks at what treatment and services are effective for people who are homeless and use drugs.

3) Peer support, which refers to the support provided by people who have lived experiences of a particular situation, has been recognised as an important way of working with vulnerable groups who have quite often struggled to access and have been stigmatised within healthcare. This state of the art review explores use of peer support models within services for people impacted by homelessness and problem substance use and provides guidance for the implementation of peer involvement service delivery.

4) Focusing on people with overlapping experiences of homelessness and substance use, this Drug and Alcohol Findings hot topic examines the evidence about needs, gaps in services, and ‘what works’ when providing support for people who experience homelessness and substance use.

5) EMCDDA have recently hosted a webinar entitled: Ways to respond to drugs and homelessness: Innovative approaches in Europe. This webinar involved discussion with front line workers from three European countries who have implemented solutions to address issues linked to homelessness.

6) Inclusion Health is a framework for action that helps find ways of improving the health and well-being for socially excluded groups. This review, published in The Lancet, explores information about the efficacy of specific interventions designed for Inclusion Health for marginalised populations, including people who experience homelessness, addiction or incarceration.

7) In this publication, commissioned by EMCDDA, the researchers explore the evidence base for services designed to meet the needs of people who experience homelessness and use drugs. The paper examines the gaps and limitations in our understanding of what constitutes homelessness as well as the evidence that might enhance homelessness prevention and services.

8) This paper, published by the Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH), discusses the definition, demographics, major themes, known solutions, and unanswered questions of unsheltered homelessness on a global scale.