Older homelessness

This important collaborative event united expertise and experience from across the sectors to discuss practical solutions to prevent older homelessness.

Age UK and Homeless Link have proactively campaigned for targeted services and housing options for older homeless people, working with a range of national and local partners within the UK Coalition on Older Homelessness. As funding for the Coalition has ended, it's a good time to reflect on progress made and examine how we can move forward in the current political climate.

About the seminar

The seminar asked how major policy upheaval (including reforms to the delivery of local services), the homelessness legislation, and housing benefit will impact on vunerable older people. It offered an opportunity to listen to key players in the sector, and to share views about the way forward.

Age UK hopes the seminar will result in collaborative action to protect services and generate some practical recommendations.

Speakers

Speakers included:

• Charles Fraser, St Mungo's Housing Association
• Roger Harding, Shelter
• Katharine Sacks Jones, Crisis
• Jacqui McClusky, Homelessness Link

Speakers reviewed current policy trends impacting on older homeless people, reflected on the effectiveness of practical interventions, and lead discussion that considered how the major charities could collaborate in the future to ensure the specific needs of older homeless people are addressed.