Homelessness Week - Co-ordinated care makes real impact for Ben

August 3-9 is Homelessness Week, raising community awareness and building support to end homelessness.

For Bolton Clarke’s Melbourne-based Homeless Persons Program (HPP) nurses, it’s a goal they work towards every day.

Meet HPP client *Ben (not his real name).

*Ben arrived in Australia as a refugee with significant trauma. For a few years he was in and out of general and mental health hospitals with poorly treated health conditions, sleeping rough and being vacated from crisis accommodations because his untreated health issues impacted his personality and behaviour.

In March 2025, he arrived at Ozanam House in North Melbourne, where HPP nurse Ash Lewis worked with him almost daily to establish a routine for taking his medications, refer him to nearby health services, help with attending appointments and co-ordinate follow-up, along with hospital appointments. She also worked closely with his housing worker and the Ozanam House team to alert him of the appointments and meetings needed to plan longer term housing.

Having this holistic support led to improved mental health and *Ben was discharged from mental health support, with only a few hospitalisations in 2025-26 compared with multiple presentations every month before that.

Working with his housing team and health services, he is now living in low-level supported housing.

“Reaching this outcome took significant co-ordination due to *Ben having a history of risks alongside multiple chronic health issues,” HPP nurse Ash Lewis said.

“Lots of advocacy was required to reassure the accommodation provider to give him a trial, but he is now a permanent resident and today says he feels happy and safe.”