Older Homelessness Project

The Coalition on Older Homelessness Project (COHP) is based in the Homeless Link policy team. It is supported by the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England & Wales. It works to raise awareness of the specific needs of older homeless people and for improved services for this client group. The COHP was initially established by Help the Aged and continues to be supported by both Help the Aged and hact (Housing Associations Charitable Trust). Membership comprises both people from the homelessness sector and from the older people’s sector. Anyone working with older homeless people or with an interest in the issues affecting them is invited to join.

Current work

The current work of the COHP is encouraging local authorities to audit their older homeless population and include their needs in strategic planning and producing guidance for local authorities on addressing the needs of their older homeless populations and on preventing homelessness in older people. We have produced a toolkit for local authorities to use to audit their older homeless population in a specific local authority area which is available on our toolkits website.

COHP meetings

The COHP meets quarterly and organises its meetings in different areas of the country. This allows people from different areas to attend and for the meetings to highlight practice with older homeless people in regional areas. Each meeting generally has two presentations from projects on relevant themes, followed by discussions and a general information exchange. Members who are unable to attend are sent minutes and presentations to keep them informed.

Further Information

The Coalition has a website where facts and figures, project descriptions and publications relevant to the older homeless population can be found.

Contact us

If you are interested in the work of the Coalition and would like to go on the mailing list or find out more please contact Sarah Gorton at Homeless Link. tel 0207 840 4411