Homelessness Awareness Week encourages communities to recognise the reality of homelessness in Northern Ireland. Under this year’s theme, “See the Person,” the South Eastern Trust is shining a light on the essential support provided by its Homeless Health Nurse, Lisa Ewart.
Lisa works closely with local hostels, including the Simon Community in Bangor, to help men, women and families access the healthcare services many people take for granted. Support can include registering with a GP, arranging dental care, accessing contraception, or attending vital medical appointments.
Brian, a resident of the Simon Community Hostel in Bangor for the past five months, knows only too well the challenges of navigating healthcare while experiencing homelessness. Brian said, “Healthcare is not the first priority. Your priorities are finding somewhere to sleep, somewhere to stay warm and somewhere to get your medication. It is hard when you are homeless and trying to get your medication as you do not have an address and you cannot claim benefits. A GP will not take you.”
Since coming to live in the hostel and with the assistance of Lisa, Brian is now registered with a Doctor and Dentist. Brian added, “Since meeting Lisa, she is getting me back on my feet. I had my flu jab two weeks ago and I am on the right medication now for my addiction problems. Lisa is a Nurse, but she is much more than that. She will help you.”
Lisa explained how part of her role is to offer health clinics within all the Simon Community Hostels, Women’s Aid Refuge Centre and some of the family based hostels within the South Eastern Trust area.
Lisa said, “I will try to reach all of the street homeless within the South Eastern Trust and offer them access to health based services such as Flu vaccination and register that person with a GP. It is part of working with them to try and overcome the barriers a person experiencing homelessness is facing day and daily,” said Lisa.
Lisa explained how being or becoming ‘street homeless’ means, “You are disadvantaged more.”
Lisa continued, “Some of the people I work with, being homeless, do not have proof of address, they cannot get access to their critical medication, be it for Diabetes, Epilepsy or for their mental health. We have offered the Flu vaccination to all of our hostels and street sleepers as they are at huge risk at this time of year.”
“Homelessness is not just a week, it is an issue that happens 365 days a year. It is on everybody’s radar at Christmas, but we know that it is here every day and that our Service Users are facing these issues day and daily. We are working to try and get those who are homeless back into services that are vital to us all.”