At Street Nurses, accompanying work goes far beyond helping homeless people get off the streets. Once relocated, the difficulties faced by the people we help, remain numerous and are often much more complex than one might imagine. Pierre Ryckmans, the team’s medical coordinator, explains this reality: "Contrary to what many people imagine, street support work is not always the most difficult part of our mission at Street Nurses. The real challenge is support at home." »
The first years after moving in are a challenge.
The first two years after moving in are often the most complex, both for the people we accompany and for the teams. On the street, contacts can sometimes be easier to manage: if a person refuses an approach, it is possible to come back the following week, and even in difficult situations, one can take a step back and try again. But after relocation, the framework changes, and people must face new responsibilities that weigh heavily on their shoulders: paying their rent, respecting the owner’s rules, go to the CPAS, or manage their relations with neighbours. This pressure represents a major challenge, both for the people themselves and for the Street Nurses team, which must accompany them throughout this process.
Isolation and loss of social contact
Another major obstacle is isolation. Life on the street is more spontaneous and social interactions are frequent. But once in a home, this isolation can quickly intensify. People are left alone, without the opportunity to meet other people as they could on the street, which makes monitoring and accompaniment difficult. In addition, some behaviour such as aggression or drugs use that were tolerated on the street, can cause serious problems in a closed environment. The risks are becoming greater, and outsiders find it more difficult to intervene.
Increased health risk at the beginning of housing
Paradoxically, although housing offers new stability, it can also become dangerous, especially for those who use drugs. Without outside supervision, these people can store drugs and increase their consumption, which was not as easy on the street where any unusual behaviour attracted attention. The risk of malaise or loss of consciousness may go unnoticed at home, increasing health hazards, although this risk gradually decreases as the situation stabilizes..
The key role of support in housing
In the end, support at home is a demanding process but essential to enable people to reintegrate sustainably into society. As Pierre Ryckmans points out:
« "our role does not stop at getting them off the street; it is above all to ensure that they can stay in in their home, safely and autonomously." »
We support each person to help them find balance again, respect social norms and build a stable future.
Help us provide homes for more homeless people.
Let's put an end to clichés!
The problem of homelessness is too often little known and is generally based on untruths. What if we could deconstruct these clichés?
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