Cheltenham Borough Council is working collaboratively with Gloucestershire police, statutory and third sector partners to offer support to rough sleepers.
This includes extensive support, and efforts to engage with, occupants of tents in areas including Cheltenham town centre.
Nationally, rough sleeping figures have reached a record high, and Cheltenham, like many other urban areas is not immune to these challenges. Across the county, the council jointly commissions a range of services to help rough sleepers, including an outreach service provided by Julian House whose role is to work with rough sleepers, help them to engage with services, and to help find suitable accommodation.
Rough sleepers in Cheltenham also have access to a ‘somewhere safe to stay’ hub, providing short term, safe accommodation and support. The council also has self-contained accommodation for entrenched rough sleepers – those who have been rough sleeping for extended time and resist support.
Enhanced housing support is offered through Cheltenham Borough Council’s housing management team, and P3 to help prevent rough sleepers now living in our accommodation, from returning to the streets. This can include help with housing benefits applications, obtaining I.D., registering with a GP, setting up a bank account and engaging with support services.
Further support is also available through a multi-disciplinary team: the complex, homelessness prevention and support service, which supports rough sleepers with complex mental health, substance use and/or social care needs, and who are struggling to engage with mainstream services.
Councillor Rowena Hay, leader at Cheltenham Borough Council said: ‘’Homelessness and rough sleeping can come with a number of complexities. It remains a priority for us to continue working with our partner agencies to make assessments and make efforts to engage with, and provide support, to people who are in need of help.
‘’We are aware of the concerns that have been raised with the use of tents and have, and will continue, to take action where we need to, both to support the welfare of those occupying the tents, but also to keep our town centre a welcoming, safe and vibrant place for residents and visitors alike. This action is not just happening now, it happens all year round, with the same processes and protocols as we’d always follow. Rough sleeping can unfortunately be associated with anti-social behaviour and it is our responsibility, together with partners to address this and take action where needed.
‘’Rough sleeping is an incredibly emotive issue and we want to reassure residents and visitors that homelessness support remains of key importance and much work is happening across the county to address the issues and concerns that it brings.’’
If members of the public are concerned about a rough sleeper, they can report this by visiting the Streetlink website.
