The government has announced £10 million in funding for 115 councils across England to help with rough sleeping winter pressures - with Coventry receiving £108,000.
The funding is in recognition of the significant pressures that local areas face in increasing provision of emergency accommodation and additional support required to safeguard vulnerable people at risk from sleeping rough this winter.
The Council’s rough sleeper outreach team have been operating in Coventry for the past few years from 6am, five days a week throughout the year - engaging with people they find and working with them to secure permanent accommodation. On any night this can vary from 10 to 13 people.
The outreach team work with lots of important agencies to help tackle the reasons that people have ended up rough sleeping in the first place which could be trauma, family breakdown, mental health and addiction issues or no recourse to public funds.
Cllr Naeem, Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We have a really committed team of outreach workers out early in the morning every weekday and that is all year round, but as the temperatures drop, we are even more aware of the impact this can have on someone sleeping on the street.
“We welcome any help and support we can get because there has been a rise in homelessness across the city, which is the same pattern nationally. So, this money will be used to support the work of the team.
“During the early morning outreach visits, officers generally know most of those people they find sleeping rough and the absolute priority is to encourage them into accommodation - although we cannot force someone into shelter.
“We also work with a range of partners including The Salvation Army who run Steps for Change which is open from 9.30am till 4.30pm, Monday to Friday at Lamb Street, where single people who are homeless can get support, help and advice.”
Sophie Hall, Housing and Homelessness Commissioning and Partnerships Lead, added: “During the winter months we also operate a Severe Weather Protocol (SWEP), when we set up extra support. We have five beds emergency beds at Harnall Lifehouse and 12 when SWEP operates.
“We have a range of other accommodation options – some for people referred through the rough sleepers’ team, whilst others are available to anyone. We will work to provide emergency accommodation to known rough sleepers throughout the year.”
“During SWEP we will provide a warm place to go for anyone who is rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping.”
The Council ask people who see someone sleeping outside over night to report the details and location to thestreetlink.org.uk and the city’s outreach team will visit them on the next outreach session and encourage them to get support and find accommodation.