The main aim of this study was to assess the needs of the homeless in temporary hostel accommodation people in Bloomsbury Health District for mental health services. The central question of this assessment was whether the need is for institutional or community care services. Current literature suggests that a high proportion of the homeless are victims of deinstitutionalisation and hinted at their need for institutional treatment. The study aim was achieved by: (a) Comparing the records of homeless and the home-based clients of the CPNs in their problems and care. (b) Comparing a random sample from homeless peoples' hostels with a sample from the chronic psychiatric patients of a community psychiatric service, (c) Undertaking a cross-cultural comparison of the care provided to homeless people in London and New York. The main results of this study showed that the majority of needs of homeless people for mental health services is related to their poverty and homelessness. Nevertheless homeless people with chronic mental illness have many unmet needs that make them disturbed and visible to the general public. The services needed by homeless people to meet their mental health needs should be community-based with a specialist role to work with them in their residential settings. Their need is for a multi-disiplinary service that can incorporate psychiatric, social and substance abuse services
