Working with hospital patients

Our Routes to Roots project

Homelessness can have a severe effect on people’s mental and physical health and hospital patients can be vulnerable to becoming trapped in a cycle of homelessness.

Routes to Roots works with the Royal London Hospital in Tower Hamlets and the Homerton Hospital in Hackney to prevent patients at risk of homelessness being discharged onto the streets; helping them work out where they can get the best support and find a safe and stable place to stay. We also help people settle into their new home and ensure they have the right financial support in place, so they don’t end up homeless again.

Support workers from Providence Row and the hospital pathway teams work directly with patients approaching the end of their hospital stay, identifying where and in which borough they may be able to find services to help support them. They then support the patient to return to their home borough and access housing assistance from their council. In some cases they also assist patients from abroad to reconnect to their country of origin. 

Routes to Roots is run by Providence Row, in partnership with some committed and long-term supporters through the Royal London Hospital in Tower Hamlets and in partnership with the London Borough of Hackney for delivery through the Homerton Hospital.