Camberwell Reception Centre: a consideration of the need for health and social services of homeless, single men

SUMMARYThis article casts some light on a neglected area of the health and social services in Britain, namely provision for homeless, single men. It is shown that the services available are grossly inadequate to meet their needs. The paper uses results from a study of Camberwell reception centre which demonstrate that the absolute number of men having either a physical or mental illness who use the centre in any one year is much higher than had previously been calculated. The reception centre is unable to meet their needs which are principally for low-rent accommodation for single people and appropriate health care and social support.