We are taking part in the HOME Study with Homeless Link.
The HOME Study uses existing data to explore how homeless accommodation impacts on the health of people experiencing homelessness.
Better quality accommodation is likely to improve people’s health, but we have limited evidence to bring about change.
Health data is used to plan health services. However, as housing status is not routinely collected, this makes people experiencing homelessness “invisible”, so this data cannot currently be used to provide evidence of the impact of accommodation on health.
This project will link existing homeless accommodation and NHS health data to provide evidence for improvements in accommodation and health services.
What this research is doing
use existing data to explore how homeless accommodation impacts on the health of people experiencing homelessness.
link existing homeless accommodation and NHS health data to provide evidence for improvements in accommodation and health services.
Health data is used to plan health services. However, as housing status is not routinely collected, this makes people experiencing homelessness “invisible”, so this data cannot currently be used to provide evidence of the impact of accommodation on health.
How your data may be used
If you have been in contact with any homelessness services your personal information (name, date of birth) may be used by UKHSA to undertake the linkage.
Your data will not be used for anything other than this research and only the people on the project team will be working with it.
As soon as UKHSA has linked the data, anything that identifies you will be destroyed so that no person can be identified.
Only anonymised housing and health data (such as hospital admissions) will then be analysed.
The use of your data is legally covered by Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG) approval in accordance with section 251 of the NHS Act 2006.
There are strong measures in place to make sure your data is kept safely and held securely.
You do not have to take part in this study, and can opt out by contacting services@cstm.org.uk or speaking to a member of staff by 8th May. Opting out will not affect your healthcare, housing or support.
To find out more visit www.homeless.org.uk/what-we-do/research/the-home-study