NIHR Global Health Research Group on Homelessness and Mental Health in Africa (HOPE)
About Us
HOPE is an international collaboration between researchers, people with lived experience, policy makers and community stakeholders working in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya to develop effective, rights-based interventions for people who are homeless and have severe mental illness
Why we need HOPE
People with severe mental illness are over-represented in homeless populations globally, but this is a major concern in Africa.
2 in 5 people who were homeless in an Addis Ababa study had severe mental illness
1 in 3 people with severe mental illness in a rural district in Ethiopia had slept unsheltered.
Unmet needs are extensive and include respect for human rights, basic needs for shelter, safety, food and sanitation; mental and physical health care; social reintegration and economic recovery.
Despite the scale of the problem, there is no high-quality evidence to show which interventions are effective and feasible in African settings.
Our esteemed colleague, Dr Victoria Mutiso, tragically passed away on the 4th August 2026. Our team is deeply shocked and saddened by this news and send our sincere condolences to her family and friends. As the director of research for Afrimeb, Dr Mutiso co-led the research team in Kenya for the HOPE project and brought many years of experience in applied research to support the recovery of people experiencing mental health conditions. We were fortunate to benefit from her wisdom and insights. We especially remember her passion and commitment to reach the most marginalised. We are inspired by her example and committed to deliver on the work we began together to support people experiencing homelessness and severe mental illness across Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana. May her soul rest in peace.
The objectives of the 4 year HOPE project are to
01
Identify the priority needs and valued outcomes of those who are homeless and have severe mental illness.
02
Integrate global and local evidence to select and co-produce interventions.
03
Evaluate the impact and costs of co-produced interventions.
04
Generate evidence-based guidance on how to implement interventions.
05
Pioneer the development of methods and ethical frameworks.
06
Build sustainable capacity across partners.
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Our Partners
