Routes out of Poverty and Isolation for Older Homeless People : Possible Models from Poland and the UK

Routes out of homelessness are frequently identified as requiring shifts in lifestyles and networks. Success is commonly measured through the achievement of independence, however, isolation can frequently prove to be a problem when former social networks have to be abandoned. This paper looks at two organisations, one in Poland and one in the UK, both of which work with homeless people who are or who have been roofless. It is argued that the language and ideology framing the work of an organisation will have a strong influence on the model of provision and that a holistic approach with community and meaningful activity at its centre may be the way forward for some homeless people.