Homeless Outreach Team (START) (Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon)

Homeless Outreach (START) is a small multi-disciplinary assessment team for street homeless people in Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon. Our role is to engage and assess homeless people with severe mental health problems and to refer them on to local mainstream services.

We provide short-term care coordination. We do not have access to our own accommodation.

The service is for people who are:

• Homeless (see below)
• Over 18 years of age
• Have a severe and enduring mental illness. This includes schizophrenia, affective disorders and personality disorders
• Are unwilling or unable to engage with mainstream services.
• All 4 criteria must be met. We do not see people just because they are homeless.

When should a client be considered homeless?  If they are:

• Rough sleeping
• Sleeping in abandoned buildings, parks or on public transport
• Using one of the hostels for homeless people.