Case Study: Thames Reach achieves rehousing for 37 long-term rough sleepers with serious mental health needs with Homeless Link

Bridging the gap between outreach and mental health services

Thames Reach used a Homelessness Transition Fund grant administered by Homeless Link to tackle a cohort of long-term rough sleepers whose homelessness was driven by serious mental health problems. These individuals were often hidden, resistant to standard outreach and falling through gaps between street services and statutory mental health provision, so Thames Reach needed to embed mental health expertise into its London Street Rescue outreach work.

Homeless Link funded a psychologically informed outreach worker post and spot-purchased specialist input from Enabling Assessment Service London (EASL) — including an approved mental health professional and clinical psychologist — to provide intensive engagement, assessments and advocacy. Over the two-year, £99,793 HTF-funded project Thames Reach supported 92 people, reached 74 rough sleepers with mental health needs, completed 60 specialist assessments and secured housing for 37 individuals, showing Homeless Link’s funding converted entrenched non‑engagement into statutory mental health responses and accommodation.

Thames Reach