How we help people living on the streets in the city
Services and support we provide to help people living on the streets.
Help for rough sleepers
We care about all our residents, including vulnerable people who are rough sleeping.
People sleeping rough are a constantly changing population and the city’s street services work with about 10 new cases every week.
We have many services and support in place to help people away from the streets, but sadly more people end up in need each week.
People sleeping rough die younger, are more likely to get ill and are more vulnerable to violence than those in the wider population.
To help people who are rough sleeping it's critical that we work together with other organisations. We have a citywide network helping people in need.
How you can help
Share the details of people you see rough sleeping with StreetLink. This information can be passed on to outreach workers who can go out and offer support.
Don't direct people to come to the council’s Customer Service Centre.
If you meet someone rough sleeping who is unwell and in need of immediate accommodation contact us:
- phone during office hours and ask to speak with the duty manager
- phone outside of office hours and ask to speak with the duty Homeless Persons Officer
- 01273 294 400
Contact the Housing options advice service to get help to prevent homelessness and look at alternative forms of accommodation.
Our rough sleeping priorities
We aim to help people who are already sleeping rough, as well as people at risk of homelessness. This includes those who are sofa surfing and living in vans, tents and squats. This also includes people who are in hostels after sleeping rough.
We have 5 main priorities:
- preventing homelessness and rough sleeping
- rapid assessment and reconnection
- improving health
- a safe city
- pathways to independence
Our partners
We work with a variety of partners across the city to support the rough sleeping strategy.
These include: