Homeless women in London: the hostel perspective

This is a service-related study of the prevalence of mental illness in 43 women referred to a visiting psychiatrist at a hostel for single homeless women in south-east London. Over 80% of those referred were mentally ill, and 21% of the total were diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia. Despite the dedication and versatility of the care staff, the hostel was ill-equipped to meet the needs of the chronic mentally ill. The adequacy of community care provision is further brought into doubt.