Doncaster’s drug and alcohol services are expanding to reach out to the borough’s homeless people.
Aspire Drug and Alcohol Service has launched its Homeless Longreach project to work in partnership with agencies across Doncaster to support vulnerable people identified as homeless, or at risk of homelessness, who are experiencing problems with drug or alcohol addiction or dependency, and want to make changes.
Aspire Single Point of Access Team Leader Helen Owen said: “We’re initially working with partners such as hostels and housing providers, but we’re able to work with any agency that comes into contact with homeless people, and can also accept self-referrals from people who need support.”
Aspire’s Longreach Service is being delivered by three Aspire outreach workers – Wendy, Dave and Miles – working flexibly over five days, Monday to Friday, who will be able to either visit people or arrange appointments to conduct initial assessment and help put in place a plan to support the client moving forward. If someone comes into contact with a homeless person outside of these working hours, they can contact the duty outreach worker on the next working day.
Helen added: “Homeless people can find services difficult to access, so we will look at ways to work with them – this could be out of hours, visiting them at food providers, or street walks to make it as easy as possible for them to be supported.
“Our aim is to develop links with as many agencies as possible to deliver a multi-disciplinary approach in providing a full package of care to meet people’s physical and emotional needs to help them to find shelter and support them to overcome the barriers that prevent them overcoming their addictions to drugs or alcohol.”
Anyone who would like a confidential chat about drug or alcohol issues please visit our live chat at www.aspire.community. The Longreach workers can also be contacted at (01302) 730956.
