NHS North East London and the City and Thames Reach - The Greenhouse

The Greenhouse is an integrated housing and health walk-in service, engaging those most hard to reach in our local community, who are experiencing homelessness, whilst also falling outside of the priority banding of homelessness.  Working in partnership with the City and Hackney Primary Care Trust, they provide users with good quality housing advice and access to health options. They assist individuals giving them advice on how to sustain themselves in the community and encouraging engagement with positive social networks and a move away from a street-based lifestyle. They address the significant needs that have resulted from a period of homelessness such as issues related to physical or mental health and wellbeing.

They offer:

• A full range of health services provided by GPs, Nurse Practitioners, counsellors, psychiatrists; psychotherapists, sexual health services, drug and alcohol services (shared care), substance misuse specialist GPs, foot health, dentists, diabetes specialist nurses, screening services such as TB/mobile x-ray van, outreach to hard to reach groups, legal advisors, interpreters, referrals to specialist services if needed.
• Housing and welfare advice provided by Thames reach
• Teaching and training of students and colleagues

Third place, 2012 Awards: received £15,000