ABSTRACT
The voluntary and community sector plays a crucial role, working in collaboration with public agencies to provide services especially to the poorest and most disadvantaged. Access to public services such as health, education and training, and social housing are critical to the functioning of any society, with social structures and institutions playing a critical role in alleviating the impact of economic shocks, reducing vulnerability and supporting coping mechanisms to prevent and provide pathways out of poverty. Homeless, street-based, drug-using sex workers often have multiple, complex intersecting health and social care needs. Likewise, discussions with community-based health and social care workers revealed that many felt they were poorly equipped to provide holistic person-centred care to people with complex needs, such as homeless, drug-using sex workers. Sexual services markets are generally highly stratified and often comprise a mixture of outdoor and indoor work venues, such as brothels, massage parlours and escort agencies.
