Our purpose is to change lives through better sight and hearing by making expert care accessible and affordable for everyone, especially people who are disadvantaged. This includes people experiencing homelessness, who experience a higher level of eye problems1 yet can face major barriers getting eye care. We’re working to make sure that they can better access the care they need.
How we’re helping to increase access to care
“Specsavers is here for everyone,” says our co-founder, Dame Mary Perkins.
“We just haven't seen them all yet.”
We’re working to improve access to eye and hearing care for all, including those experiencing homelessness, and we want to make a long-term difference. We’re doing this through partnerships with organisations like Crisis, VCHP and The Big Issue, and will be starting to provide out-of-hours eyecare clinics in some of our stores for people affected by homelessness in 2024. We’re also using our brand strength to highlight the wider needs of those experiencing homelessness and to push for change.
Our partnerships
We’re working with our partners to remove barriers for people experiencing homelessness. Together, we’re helping people access care.
Homelessness
in the UK today
If changes aren’t made, the Homelessness Monitor Great Britain predict that in 2023 300,000 households in the the UK could face the worst forms of homelessness2.
Homelessness is the lack of safe, secure accommodation.
Rough sleeping is the most visible form, but it’s just one type. Many people experiencing homelessness are ‘hidden’.
Hidden homelessness includes those who are sleeping on friends’ sofas and floors, in cars or living in unsuitable temporary accommodation. People in these situations often don’t show up in official statistics.
The impact of homelessness
When people experience homelessness they may need glasses to improve their sight, which in turn may help them to find accommodation, to look for work, or simply to keep themselves safe. However, they’re particularly disadvantaged when it comes to accessing eyecare.
They experience a higher level of eye problems1 than the general population and are unlikely to go to a high street optician.
Research by our charity partner Vision Care For Homeless People found that more than half of those surveyed3 (57%) reported current eyecare needs.
Nearly 65% said they’d put off going to an optician.
Due to the way NHS eligibility works, many people affected by homelessness can't get NHS help at point of care - so they’re not eligible for an NHS sight test and a voucher towards their glasses.
Our stores and our colleagues
In 2024, we’ll start to provide out-of-hours eyecare clinics in some of our high-street stores for people affected by homelessness. This pilot scheme will help us learn from people with lived experience and help us identify better ways to support people in our stores.
We’re also piloting a domiciliary service for homeless people in Leeds, starting in 2024, which will offer outreach eyecare in shelters working with service providers in the city.
Our new training course helps our colleagues to understand homelessness, dispel some of the myths, and explain the situations and pressures that people experiencing homelessness face. Specific CPD training for optometrists is also available.
In 2022/23, our stores and support office colleagues raised more than £1 million for charities and good causes, including our homelessness charity partners.
Calling for change
We’re using our voice to shine a light on the issue of homelessness, specifically the lack of access to care.
We’re calling for three changes that we believe would make the most difference to people experiencing homelessness:
- Eligibility for free eye tests and glasses to be extended to include people experiencing homelessness.
- To be eligible to receive an NHS domiciliary service when attending a day centre or when staying in a shelter or hostel without the need for a pre-visit notification.
- To be eligible to receive free replacement NHS glasses if their current pair is broken, lost or stolen due to their homelessness.
How to direct someone to help
If you want to direct someone experiencing homelessness to services that can help them, please use the details here.
England and Wales
Read moreRead lessStreetLink by phone, 0300 500 0914, or via the StreetLink app.
StreetLink exists to help end rough sleeping by enabling members of the public to connect people sleeping rough with the local services that can support them.
Scotland
Read moreRead lessLocal council or Simon Community Scotland, which has a wide range of services.
Northern Ireland
Read moreRead lessIn Belfast, call the Welcome Organisation on 07894 931047 (7am-2am) and 07851 246814 (2pm-2am).
In the North West, call First Housing Aid and Support Services on 07540 100208.
In other parts of Northern Ireland, call the Housing Executive on 03448 920908.
There is also the Homeless Support helpline on 0800 171 2222.
References
- Gelberg L, Andersen RM, Leake BD. (2000) Healthcare Access and Utilization. The Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations: Application to Medical Care Use and Outcomes for Homeless People Health Service Research 34, 1273-1302. National Centre for Biotechnology Information 2000
- Crisis (no date) About homelessness [online] available at https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/about-homelessness/
- Homeless voices (2019) Unpublished by VCHP