Development of an inner urban homeless mental health service.

Objectives: The aim is to describe the development, principles and practices of the Waratah Area Homeless Outreach Psychiatric Service (WAHOPS) and place these in the context of international developments in homeless psychiatric services.

Methods: Information on the development of the service was collected from current and past staff. Reference is made to the relevant literature.

Results: WAHOPS has developed a unique model of practice based on local and international experience.

Conclusions: Specialized mental health services for the homeless, by working in close collaboration with existing homeless services, can successfully engage and manage patients. The application of homeless practices may need to become more widespread in public mental health services as patterns of accommodation change within the Australian population.