Unhealthy State of Homelessness 2022: Findings from the Homeless Health Needs Audit

This research builds on the learning of our 2014 Unhealthy State of Homelessness report. The Unhealthy State of Homelessness 2014 aggregated data from 19 Homeless Health Needs Audits undertaken between 2012 and 2014 and demonstrated the stark health inequalities faced by people who experience homelessness. The Homeless Health Needs Audit (HNNA) still provides the only national dataset of its kind on this topic. The HHNA is a survey and methodology used to assess the health needs of people experiencing homelessness. It was developed by Homeless Link in 2009 with support from the NHS, Local Authorities and Homeless Link members (predominantly homelessness service providers). The audit is used on an area-wide basis to understand the health needs of people experiencing homelessness. This report aims to build on this existing knowledge, presenting up to date information on the health of people experiencing homelessness, and exploring what we know about whether the right services are available to adequately meet people’s needs. The data in this report are drawn from aggregating data gathered through 31 individual Homeless Health Needs Audits completed between 2015-2021, representing 2,776 individual respondents.