§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to combat mental health problems amongst the homeless. [108510]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department is working with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to fund services through the Homeless Mentally Ill Initiative in line with the principles of the Government's national strategy for rough sleeping.
We are making available £9.6 million for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 to provide services for homeless people with mental health problems in London. An additional £1 million is being provided in 2000–01 to support additional specialist mental health workers and housing and resettlement services to support the launch of our strategy to reduce rough sleeping in England by two thirds by 2002.
21 areas outside London with rough sleeping problems are receiving funding of £4.5 million over 1999–2000 to 2001–02 for local authorities to provide social care services for the homeless mentally ill. This is mainly in the form of specialist mental health support workers who work as part of a team doing outreach work and undertaking assessments of needs.
The needs of the homeless mentally ill will also be addressed through the Mental Health National Service Framework. Standard one of the Framework relates to health promotion and specifically highlights the homeless as one of the vulnerable population groups whose mental health, local authorities and health authorities should seek to improve.