For people experiencing homelessness, accessing substance use treatment is rarely straightforward.
Fragmented systems, strict criteria and the limitations of borough-based boundaries often leave people excluded before they have even had a chance to engage. At Phoenix Futures, our Regional Homeless Engagement with Substance Use Treatment (RhEST) service works to remove these barriers.
RhEST is the only pan-London substance use service, operating across 32 local authorities, each with its own structures and commissioning arrangements. Meanwhile, the people we support frequently move across boroughs, often out of necessity rather than choice. Traditional services, tied to specific geographical areas, can struggle to maintain contact when someone’s life does not remain within one set of boundaries. Our role is to bridge those gaps and ensure that access to treatment does not depend on having a stable postcode.
Our team focuses on building trusted relationships with people facing multiple disadvantage. Many have complex physical, mental and social needs. Consistency is vital, yet difficult to achieve within a system not designed for mobility. By working across boroughs, RhEST can stay alongside people no matter where they move, advocating for them when their circumstances do not neatly fit the criteria expected by commissioned services.
By Chris Annison, Phoenix Futures Head of Services – London
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This content was created on behalf of Phoenix Futures