Homelessness and Rough Sleeping

Today someone will become homeless, tonight, someone will sleep rough for the first time. It will be cold, uncomfortable, lonely and potentially life threatening. They may face abuse or violence.

You can use the MECC approach and resources to help someone that you are concerned about. Contacting a local support organisation or an outreach service, could potentially save someone from homelessness and will help them find a safe shelter quicker. 

Very Brief Intervention

Ask

Reaching out to someone who we think may be at risk of homelessness or who is already living on the street can be so impactful, treat them how you’d like to be treated.

Here are key questions to Ask to help signpost the specific needs of a homeless person or someone found rough sleeping.

Initial Contact  - Do you need any help? Have you got a safe place to go to? 

How long have you been on the streets? Have you been in contact with a local homelessness team?

Previously housed in?...(own mortgaged, own rented, shared, hotel/B&B, squat supported housing, hostel)

If not currently homeless, does individual have a means of getting home? Is home safe? Current address?

Does the individual have a phone? 

Does the individual have a probation officer? Contact details?    Would the individual like you to contact someone for them?

 

Assist

Once you have established the particular circumstances and needs of the individual what can you do to help?

Please click on the below regional links for information about Homelessness and Rough Sleeping relating to your locality.

Details of National support services for the Homeless can be found under the 'Act' tab.

Act

If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness you can ask any local housing authority for help. This is known as making a homeless application. You should seek help at the earliest possible opportunity - do not delay. If you are homeless, the local housing authority you approach will owe more duties to you if you have a local connection to their area and you should consider this when deciding which local housing authority to ask for help.

The priority for the local authority is to prevent someone from becoming homeless in the first place, wherever possible. 

If you find yourself rough sleeping, there are several local organisations that can provide advice and support. However, In the first instance you should contact your local authority/council housing options service.

If you see a person sleeping rough, please report their location here: Streetlink.

Street Link

Street Link is a national service which can be used if you see people sleeping rough. Referrals can be made 24 hours a day using the hotline or online.

Telephone: 0300 500 0914 - 24-hour.

Website: www.streetlink.org.uk - You need to register to access services

Shelter

A person can contact the free Shelter helpline if they have nowhere to sleep, might be homeless soon, they have somewhere to sleep but nowhere to call home or could be at risk of harm.

Telephone: 0808 800 4444

Opening Hours: 365 days a year 8am-8pm on weekdays and 9am-5pm on weekends.

Website: https://england.shelter.org.uk/

Homeless Link

Homeless Link is the most comprehensive database of homelessness services. With over 1500 projects up and down the country providing contact details and service descriptions, it's for individuals to access the link to find local services and projects they can contact direct.

Website: Homeless Link

Citizens Advice- Homelessness

Provide advice on applying for homeless help from the council, including making an application and challenging a decision.

To find your nearest Citizens Advice please click on the contact link below. On the new link scroll down and enter your postcode or town to get contact details for your nearest Citizens Advice.

Contact: Contact us - Citizens Advice

Website:  Homelessness - Citizens Advice

Local Support and Contact Details