Lived experience conversations regarding homelessness

Healthwatch West Sussex worked with Stonepillow, Turning Tides, Crawley Open House, Bognor Housing Trust and Capital Charity to gather the views of people with lived experience of homelessness. Participants highlighted the importance of being involved in shaping services and wanted more opportunities to use their experiences to support others, influence change and reduce stigma. Volunteering was seen as particularly valuable in helping people build confidence, develop purpose and support recovery. 

Mental health support emerged as the most significant concern. Participants consistently called for quicker access to counselling, longer-term support and services that better recognise the links between trauma, mental health difficulties and substance misuse. Many were frustrated at being passed between different services that did not work together effectively. 

Participants also highlighted ongoing stigma surrounding homelessness, addiction and mental health. They felt that professionals across health, social care and criminal justice services would benefit from greater understanding of lived experience and more compassionate, person-centred approaches. There was strong support for using lived experience in training, awareness raising and improving service culture.

The report concludes that people with lived experience want a stronger collective voice and closer collaboration between services. Suggested priorities included better mapping of available support, improved sharing of resources and opportunities, more peer support networks, and greater involvement of people with lived experience in service design, training and decision-making.