Friday 29th January 2010
A new protocol that aims to improve services for people with addiction issues in West Dunbartonshire was launched yesterday (28th January).
The “Homeless/Addiction Protocol”, which is a partnership approach between West Dunbartonshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Addiction Service Partners, was launched at the area’s second annual Homelessness Conference at St Margaret’s Hospice in Clydebank.
The conference attracted around 70 delegates from a wide range of agencies, who heard about West Dunbartonshire’s response to tackling homelessness, homelessness in a national context, and also heard accounts from individuals who have experienced homelessness first-hand.
The new Homeless/Addiction Protocol aims to:
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prevent homelessness occurring as a result of an addiction issue
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ensure that existing West Dunbartonshire Addiction Partners service users receive a continuity of care if they become homeless.
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ensure access to addiction services for homeless service users who have an addiction issue, but are not currently accessing addiction services
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ensure a sustainable housing solution for all individuals.
The Council’s spokesperson for Housing, Councillor William Hendrie said: “People can become homeless for a many reasons, one of them being an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Homelessness can also cause an addiction to develop. By improving communication and understanding of each other’s services, the Council and its partners will be able to provide a more effective approach to enable individuals to deal with their addiction issues and to move out of homelessness and to a sustainable housing solution.”
