The role of an Australian Homeless Health Outreach Team: A case study, Part II

Abstract

Background: Throughout the western world, the issue of homelessness has been receiving increasing attention. As a government response to homelessness in Australia, the Queensland State Government developed a strategic plan to address this issue, establishing Homeless Health Outreach Teams. Contents: This article follows on from the previous issue, where the background to a team's formation is discussed. This article continues this discussion by describing a case study of a homeless service user. The areas that are addressed include the team involvement, recommendations for continuing treatment, and the practical ways in which the service user was assisted. Conclusions: A key feature of team's work was the close working relationships established with both the non-government and government sectors in order to address the service user's complex needs. The work was challenging, but the potential of working in this way with a population experiencing homelessness is only limited by the creativity of the team.