The role of occupational therapy in working with the homeless population : An assertive outreach approach

Abstract

The issue of homelessness has gained increasing attention in recent years. Many factors contribute to homelessness. A recent move to address the complex needs of the homeless in Queensland was the establishment of Homeless Health Outreach Teams. These are multidisciplinary teams that have a primary focus in mental health, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. The introduction of occupational therapists to the team has resulted in the need to be very clear about their skills and knowledge. This article describes homelessness, the background to the Homeless Health Outreach Team, before discussing the role of occupational therapy on this team.