Rough Sleeper Outreach Service goes live!

We are delighted to announce the new Rough Sleeper Outreach Service operating across Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes is now up and running!

The service is provided by The Rough Sleeper Partnership (RSP), across four local authority areas.  The partners include SMART, Signposts Luton , King’s Arm’s Project, and Open Door MK.

RSP will provide a combination of Outreach Support and Assessment Hubs where people can go to access help and support.

The new Rough Sleeper Outreach Team includes 3 dedicated Mental Health Crisis Workers employed by East London Foundation Trust and Central North West London Foundation Trust.

We are working with our existing services and partners to actively identify, engage and effectively provide much needed support to those most vulnerable on the streets, sleeping rough and homeless.  The Street Outreach Team will also aim to identify those at high risk of becoming rough sleepers and work proactively to prevent them from moving on to the streets.

The service has been set up following a successful bid by Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, Luton Borough Council and Milton Keynes Borough Council for grant funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government. The funding received will enable this service to be provided for two years.

We are all thrilled to be working together on this exciting and much needed project.

Referrals

Referrals for this project will be welcomed from all, whether that be self-referrals from those wanting support, agencies, healthcare providers, members of the public or statutory services alike. To make a referral please complete the RSP Referral Form 2017 and email to info@roughsleeperpartnership.co.uk.

If members of the public are concerned about anyone sleeping rough, they can contact the national 24 hour rough sleeping referral line StreetLink on 0300 500 0914 or online at www.streetlink.org.uk

Assessment Hubs:

Central Milton Keynes and Bletchley: hosted by Open Door MK:

Monday’s: 11-2pm and Friday’s: 10:30-1pm at Salvation Army: Ramsons Ave, Conniburrow, Milton Keynes MK14 7BA

Wednesday:  11-2pm at Queensway Methodist Church Hall:  Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 2HB

Bedford Borough: hosted by SMART :

Tuesday‘s and Thursday’s 2-5pm at SMART Prebend Centre, Prebend Street, Bedford, MK40 1QW

Luton: hosted by Signposts Luton:

Monday 12-4pm and Friday 10-2pm at 106 Old Bedford Rd, Luton, LU2 7TD

Central Beds: the assessment hub will be in our new outreach van- coming soon

The team who are making it happen on the ground!

Words of support…

Mayor of Bedford Borough Dave Hodgson – “Homelessness is a national crisis and in Bedford we are tackling the problem head-on. This is the latest in a string of work the Council has done as part of our commitment to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping, including the new Complex Needs Unit which is set to open later this year providing specialist accommodation and support for some of the most vulnerable.”

Councillor Tom Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Housing at Luton Borough Council – “Luton Council is committed to reducing homelessness in the town and we are pleased to be working with other authorities across the region to address homelessness and, equally importantly, the factors that can lead to people moving onto the streets.”

Councillor Colleen Atkins, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Regulatory Services at Bedford Borough Council – “This new service is good news as rough sleepers are among the most marginalised and vulnerable people in our society and require additional support to re-integrate into the community. It’s hoped this new service will ensure there is a cohesive pathway for people who are rough sleeping or at risk of doing so.”

Councillor Carole Hegley, Executive Member for Social Care & Housing at Central Bedfordshire Council – “We understand that homelessness can happen to anyone at any stage in their life and at times through no fault of their own. We want to ensure that we are doing all we can to help people back on their feet. And with the new mobile assessment hub launching and operating across the whole of Central Bedfordshire and nearby regions it will provide the best possible support for those sleeping rough to access the services they need and move away from the streets.”

Councillor Nigel Long, Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Housing at Milton Keynes Council – “Tackling homelessness in Milton Keynes, in all its forms, is a fundamental priority for our council. Having a specialist team here and across the region will help us to help those most in need, and help those at risk of losing their home, before they reach the streets. This is a great example of councils working together to fund the right kind of help, exactly where and when it is needed the most.”