HealthBus takes the case for joined-up health and housing to Westminster

On 22 September 2026, HealthBus Chief Executive Deano Pickering and Vice Chair Gareth Sherwood met Homelessness Minister Florence Eshalomi at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with support from Tom Hayes, Labour MP for Bournemouth East.

With the Government aiming to offer everyone sleeping rough a route off the streets by Christmas, Deano and Gareth shared what frontline services see: a safe place to stay is essential, but people also need support to recover and sustain independent living.

Their paper for the Minister set out the vital link between health and housing. People supported by HealthBus and YMCA Bournemouth may face poor physical or mental health, trauma and other pressures simultaneously. HealthBus builds trusted relationships through outreach and care, helping people engage with treatment and move into stable accommodation.

As Deano stated, “Without sustained health, housing can quickly become fragile.” Gareth has similarly said, “A safe place to live matters enormously, but so too do encouragement, relationships, opportunity.” Tom has warned that people sleeping rough often lack “the entirety of the services and support they need”.

Their shared message: lasting routes off the streets depend on joined-up health, housing and personal support at every stage of recovery.