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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Coalition?
How did the Coalition come about?
Why do older people need a different approach?
What does the Coalition believe?
What is the Coalition trying to achieve?
Where can I get further information?
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What is the Coalition?
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The Coalition is a new UK lobby group of housing and homelessness agencies concerned with raising the profile of older homeless people in the UK
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How did the Coalition come about?
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The Coalition grew from a funding partnership between Help the Aged and the Housing Associations Charitable Trust (HACT). Help the Aged and HACT are funding projects in the UK offering specialist services to older homeless people. These range from outreach and resettlement services to specialist training for staff and managers in the homelessness sector.
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Why do older people need a different approach?
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Many older people, forced to sleep rough or who live in inappropriate temporary accommodation, are more vulnerable to the ill effects of homelessness. Older people have specific physical and mental health problems that require a specialist approach. Older homeless people experience discrimination and prejudice and have difficulties in accessing services in both the voluntary and statutory sectors.
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What does the Coalition believe?
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Members of the Coalition have all signed up to the following statement:
'Despite recent Government initiatives many older people continue to sleep rough or suffer from being trapped in poor, insecure and inappropriate accommodation. Older people over 50 are the most adversely affected by homelessness in relation to both physical and mental health, yet paradoxically they often face the greatest difficulties in gaining access to vital services. The needs of older people are often ignored because their experience of homelessness is less visible than other groups and they lack the voice and representation required to highlight their specific interests and issues. We, the undersigned call on all levels of government and both statutory and voluntary agencies in the UK, to recognise the distinct plight of older homeless people and to join us in taking sustained action to tackle and prevent this unacceptable situation.'
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What is the Coalition trying to achieve?
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The Coalition would like to see older homeless people gaining access to appropriate care and support and a greater investment in a range of move-on accommodation specifically tailored to their needs. The Coalition is lobbying for a greater recognition of the plight of older homeless people and to attract more resources to tackle the problem.
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Where can I get further information?
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feedback form
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To become a member of the UK Coalition, please complete our
on-line application form
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