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Nearly 150 people, from afar as the US and Portugal, attended today’s webinar, part of the Homelessness series from HSCWRU at King's, which considered Harm Reduction and Belonging in the Provision of Homelessness Services.
The speaker was Ben Scher, lecturer and postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University's Center for Health and Wellbeing. Ben’s research explores health inequalities and social exclusion among populations experiencing overdose and drug-related harm, with the aim of producing evidence and interventions responding to these harms.
The webinar explored insights from his PhD research in the UK, Canada, and Greece on how homelessness and substance use overlap in urban settings, arguing that whilst often treated as separate policy areas, solutions should overlap. Ben discussed the international evidence on how harm reduction interventions can provide not only safety, but also a sense of belonging, crucial for supporting people in achieving broader stability in relation to housing and health. He highlighted structural barriers that keep people from accessing services, and why more inclusive approaches are urgently needed.
Ben spoke at this series in summer 2023.
Some remarks from attendees
Thanks so much, Ben - such important and powerful work, and a fantastic presentation!
This was really interesting; I feel that this has really helped my understanding of how to approach supporting people with these needs.
Amazing presentation and thought-provoking research and findings, Ben. Thank you so much to the organisers and all participants
Coming up
The next webinar in the Homelessness series is 11.12.25 on Homeless applications: barriers to finding in-person help and the impact on hospitals
Please get in touch with Jess Harris to join the mailing list to hear about future events.
This event will share insights from research in the UK, Canada, and Greece on how homelessness and substance use overlap in urban settings, making the argument that whilst often treated as separate policy areas, solutions can and should overlap. Focusing on harm reduction interventions, Ben will discuss the international evidence on how these services provide not only safety, but also dignity, connection and a sense of belonging, all crucial for supporting people in achieving broader stability in relation to housing. It will highlight the structural barriers that keep many people from accessing these services, and why more inclusive approaches to health and housing are urgently needed.
Dr Ben Scher is a lecturer and postdoctoral research associate in the Global Health Program at Princeton University. He recently completed a DPhil (PhD) in Social Policy at the University of Oxford.
Homelessness series at King's
This webinar, which takes place on MS Teams only, is part of the Homelessness series, organised out of the NIHR Health and Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London, by Research Fellow Jess Harris.
The Unit is home to the Homelessness Research Programme.
We generally send out the slides following meetings and post them here, but do not record sessions.
Please get in touch with Jess Harris if you would like to join the mailing list for the Homelessness series.
At this event
Research Fellow