HHPA Birmingham

Homeless Health Peer Advocacy (HHPA)

Homeless Health Peer Advocacy (HHPA) is a peer support service. #HealthNow Birmingham delivers one-to-one engagements to enable people experiencing homelessness to access health services. Support can be provided face-to-face or over the phone, depending on individual need and COVID-19 restrictions.

Peer Advocates can:

• Support people to register with GPs and dental practices
• Help people to book health appointments
• Accompany people to appointments and support with travel costs
• Assist people to find information about health and health services
• Build skills and confidence to enable people to continue accessing health services independently

Our Peer Advocates are volunteers who have experienced homelessness themselves. All volunteers go through a rigorous selection process, including DBS checks, attend a comprehensive training programme, and receive support and supervision to enable them to carry out the role safely.

Who can benefit?
The service is open to anyone in Birmingham who is experiencing homelessness. This includes people who are sleeping on the streets, sofa-surfing or living in hostels, night shelters, refuges, asylum support (NASS) accommodation, supported housing due to homelessness, B&Bs, squats and temporary accommodation.

How to refer:
Please fill out our referral form and email it to [email protected]

We will match referrals based on capacity and priority basis. We will aim to respond to the initial referral within 3 working days. We will store all information in line with Crisis’ confidentiality and data protection policies.