Hackney,
26
February
2020
|
13:14
Europe/London

Hackney's Rough Sleeping Strategy updated

Screenshot 2020-02-25 at 15.48.52

Hackney Council has published an updated rough sleeping strategy, which outlines its plans to support the borough’s rough sleepers over the next two years.

The Strategy outlines the wide range of existing provision for rough sleepers, and the three key priorities for 2020-22: prevention, outreach and pathways out of homelessness. 

Specific pledges include:

  • Working more closely with colleagues in the NHS and adult social care to embed a trauma informed approach to supporting rough sleepers.

  • Completing the pilot delivery and enhancing a Housing First model with wraparound support for rough sleepers with complex needs.

  • Offering EEA nationals rough sleeping intensive employment support to enable them to move into employment, meaning they can access welfare benefits and housing including help with housing costs. 

  • Exploring additional accommodation for rough sleepers with no recourse to public funds and developing a programme of intensive employment support for EEA nationals, to enable them to move into employment, meaning they can access welfare benefits and housing, including help with housing costs

 

In 21st century Britain, no one should ever need to sleep rough, but sadly we know that every night thousands of people across the country sleep on the street. The reasons that drive people to sleep rough are complex, but we are clear that as a Council, we must work with our partners to do everything we can to prevent people from finding themselves homeless in the first place and supporting those that do into settled accommodation while helping with their wider support needs.

In our 2018 manifesto we committed to ending rough sleeping in our borough, and this Rough Sleeping Strategy will play a key role in taking us towards this.
Deputy Mayor Cllr Rebecca Rennison, Cabinet Member for Finance, Housing Needs and Supply

The Strategy collates the Council’s work to support rough sleepers over the last four years, including:

  • Establishing a new Street Outreach Team, including a coordinator to have strategic and operational oversight of all rough sleeping services in the borough

  • Sourcing additional emergency bed spaces

  • Working with the GLA and St Mungo’s to deliver short term ‘floating hubs’, offering intensive support

  • Hosting an annual rough sleeping summit, bringing together local organisations to improve partnership working

  • Embedding the No First Night Out principles throughout the housing advice service - a series of principles around homelessness prevention

  • Hosting Tap London contactless points at the Hackney Service Centre and Hackney Town Hall reception - allowing people to use their contactless card to donate £3 to homelessness charities.

Read a summary, the full strategy and more information about services for rough sleepers here.