Homelessness and Harm Reduction

Harm reduction usually consists of four main elements:

1. Harms relating to the substances being taken
2. Harms relating to the route of use
3. Harms connected to a person’s mental wellbeing
4. Harms relating to the persons environment

These four elements are connected and should be used to help form personalised care and support approaches that enable people to:

1. Reduce harmful consequences of using drugs and/or alcohol
2. And improve their environment to enable stabilisation, recovery and wellbeing

This session will examine how these elements fit into different approaches to homelessness and the potential opportunities offered by the COVID-19 emergency response to homelessness.