Who We Are.
Homeless Healthcare is a not-for-profit charity set up in 2008 to advance and promote the health of people experiencing homelessness and marginalisation. Dr Andrew Davies OAM recognised that the most effective way to address the health needs of homeless people was to work collaboratively with social services.
He began by holding two half-day medical clinics per week in Drop-in Centres but demand for the service rose dramatically. In 2014/15, Homeless Healthcare provided 12,922 medical consultations at 11 clinic locations across the metropolitan area. By mid-2015, Homeless Healthcare staff had seen over 4,500 homeless or marginalised patients.
Since then, Homeless Healthcare has grown considerably with more clinicians at mobile clinics and the addition of new services. In 2021/22 Homeless Healthcare provided just over 33,000 consultations to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
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Our vision is for people experiencing homelessness to have improved health and wellbeing, housing appropriate to their individual needs and hope for the future.
Breaking the cycle.
The two biggest barriers for a homeless person seeking healthcare are:
healthcare isn’t a priority in a subculture pre-occupied with basic survival
previous negative experiences with healthcare services.
To overcome these barriers it is vitally important that we recognise that a homeless person is exactly that — a person. They just happen to be homeless. Like all people, recognition of our individual needs and desires is important. As is the process of building trust.
Barriers to healthcare access can also be overcome by going to locations where homeless people feel comfortable, where they like to congregate and have access to food and showers.
Improved health and wellbeing is essential if there is to be a real chance of a person breaking the cycle of homelessness. Homeless Healthcare recognises that health problems do not occur independently of social problems.
Our clinicians have significant experience in delivering primary healthcare services catering specifically for homeless and marginalised people. Our dedicated team of doctors and nurses provide healthcare services with compassion, without judgement, and at no cost to the patient.
Homeless Healthcare Patient.
“They come to us. They found me in the psych wards and all over the place… anything and everything from my teeth to my eyes to my accommodation to my physical and my spiritual. Just about all the needs.”
Our values.
Empathy and compassion
Being sensitive to the feelings and experiences of others and acting with kindness and understanding.
Mutual respect
Honouring the rights and dignity of each other and creating beneficial relationships.
Inclusive Care
Delivering holistic patient-centred care and involving each person in their own recovery.
Collaboration
Working in partnership for better outcomes.
