The State of Homelessness in Australia's Cities: A Health and Social Cost Too High

A Nurse Practitioner service designed to address the health needs of children living in housing instability: A non‐randomised, concurrent mixed methods study protocol

“…A major deficit in attempts to address appropriate health access is the lack of data on the health needs of children in housing instability/homelessness. For example, only in more recent years have specialist homelessness services in Australia been mandated to count children attending with a parent (2009 in South Australia and 2014 in New South Wales) (Bland & Shallcross, 2015;Flatau et al, 2018;Homelessness Australia, 2016;Strong Foundation Collaboration, 2019). Hence, knowledge about the number of children exposed to this type of disadvantage has only recently begun to reflect the actual depths of the issue.…”

“…Hence, knowledge about the number of children exposed to this type of disadvantage has only recently begun to reflect the actual depths of the issue. The additional advantage of this initiative is that specialist homeless services are often the first to know when children are at risk of abuse, neglect or disconnection from other services, suggesting that closer integration with authorities may help them to intervene faster (Flatau et al, 2018;Hudson et al, 2014;Parry & Abbott, 2017;Parry & Abbott, 2018;Parry et al, 2009;Parry & Willis, 2013;Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014). However, until such service link ups are more integrated, interventions tied to specialist homeless services (such as the Nurse Practitioner model of care) cannot provide immediate health interventions (AAP, 2013;AIFS, 2012;AIHW, 2012AIHW, , 2017Bedford et al, 2013;Davidson et al, 2018;Duncan et al, 2010;Goldfeld et al, 2017;Hurley et al, 2018;Parry, Grant, & Burke, 2016;Pungello et al, 2010;Sandstrom & Heurta, 2013;Smith Family, 2019).…”