St Mungo's is boosting health amongst rough sleepers

St Mungo's and Camden Primary Care Trust are pioneering solutions to the critical health problems faced by homeless men and women.

Homeless people sleeping rough experience two or three times more physical health problems than the general population. Rough sleepers aged between 45 and 64 have a death rate 25 times greater.

St Mungo's has carried out the largest ever survey into the health problems of homeless people. A survey of 1491 people showed that two in three homeless people have physical health problems. More than a third who need treatment are not receiving it.

Worryingly, 34% of homeless people are socially vulnerable. They are extremely withdrawn, prone to exploitation and incapable of social behaviour - making it virtually impossible for them to seek help themselves.

Almost a third of homeless people suffer from conditions related to sleeping rough including bronchitis, pneumonia and frostbite. Half of sufferers do not get any treatment for these conditions.

Find out more about how St Mungo's is helping people around the UK.

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