1. Policy & Research
2. Key issues
3. Multiple needs

People facing multiple needs and exclusions are in every community in Britain. They suffer several problems at the same time, have ineffective contact with services, and are living chaotic lives.

Each problem exacerbates the other, and people easily end up in a downward spiral of mental ill health, drug and alcohol abuse, crime and homelessness.

One estimate is that there are approximately 60,000 adults in this situation in England at any one time.

Whilst there has been progress in the recognition of multiple needs and exclusions, there is still much work to be done. By its very nature, the issue of multiple needs cuts across government departments. A greater cross-governmental approach is therefore required, taking a strategic view and bringing together responses to each issue.

In our vision paper, Turning the Tide, Revolving Doors and Making Every Adult Matter call for:

• High level commitment, making a clear statement that multiple needs and exclusions is a priority for government
• A cross-departmental, top-level strategy for multiple needs and exclusions
• Specific roles in national government, and in every local area, to be made responsible for the group and accountable for the provision of effective support
• Local leaders to take up the message, leading action in their areas
• New approaches to commissioning that recognise and reward improvement in a range of outcomes
• New 'area level' economic arrangements to incentivise sustainable solutions to multiple needs

Turning the Tide: a vision paper for multiple needs and exclusions is available here.