The Dublin Simon Community Snapshot Health Survey took place throughout Dublin Simon services1 during the week of July 26th – August 1st 2010. Overall 349 people participated in the survey – this equates to just under 50% of people who used Dublin Simon services during that week (n.729).

The Health Survey aims to highlight the needs of people who are experiencing homelessness; it underlines how homelessness is not just about bricks and mortar. The majority of people seeking help have an array of complex needs ranging from physical to mental health conditions, both diagnosed and undiagnosed. Those conditions that are categorised as undiagnosed are conditions that are evident to the individual or their key worker but at the time of the survey had not been diagnosed. They are opinion based as opposed to medically confirmed conditions.

In emphasising these complex issues a range of other factors were also taken into account and considered in this survey. These range across demographics, reasons for becoming homeless, length of time homeless, benefits and allowances, behavioural issues, and drug and alcohol consumption.