Principles for the health
of homeless people

In the framework of the European project "Proximity Health", in response to the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Street Nurses participated in exchanges with other European organizations active in the fight against homelessness. This project led to the formulation of recommendations for the accompaniment of homeless people.

10 principles for the proper accompaniment of homeless people

Resulting from exchanges between the associations CAT Cooperativa Sociale (Italy), PRAKSIS (Greece) and SAMU Social(Romania) and Street Nurses (Belgium), the publication lists 10 Basic Principles for the care of homeless and poorly housed people:

1. Housing determines health

2. Need for a multidisciplinary team

3. Expert by experience: recognition of the role of peer helpers

4. Inclusion: ensuring access to health services by avoiding discrimination and stigma

5. Take time and allow for space

6. Staff care, staff well-being and prevention of burnout

7. Focus on goals and positive outcomes

8. Counting the homeless: updating data at European level is urgent

9. The role of the linguistic and cultural mediator

10. End homelessness instead of managing it!

About the “Proximity Health Project”

The project was implemented between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2023. It was launched in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, to exchange on practices between European organizations active on street health.

The project objectives were to:

1. Increase and improve the knowledge of the organizations involved, in order to improve the planning, implementation and evaluation of local and low-threshold interventions for homeless people

2. Promote exchanges to improve professional skills, motivation, and well-being of teams

3. Produce guidelines that can be used to improve the work of associations

4. Forge new relationships between European organizations and strengthen their respective networks on issues related to health and precariousness