District Dispatch - 10 December 2024

However, please spare a thought for those people in our communities who need extra support and care, including those who unfortunately find themselves homeless, or sleeping rough on the streets.

You may not be aware, but our council delivers dedicated Rough Sleeper Outreach support across the district, working directly with rough sleepers to try to support them back into accommodation and help make positive changes to their lives. Our officers work collaboratively with Stonepillow, a registered charity, in offering support which includes providing a lifeline for homeless people through their drop-in day centre and a 24-hour hostel. We also provide an annual grant towards their work.

In our district, we are also fortunate to have a number of charities working together to help those on the streets. Heart for Homeless and The Four Streets Projectensure food is available to those in need 365 days of the year. They also signpost to appropriate services so individuals can access the support they need. This is why we are encouraging you to 'Make Your Change Count' this Christmas by supporting these charities, rather than giving your money directly to those who are asking for money on the street. By doing this, you can be sure that your money will be making a lasting change and real difference to their lives. Help is available to anyone in our district who finds themselves on the streets, but sometimes by giving directly, your generosity can prevent someone from accessing the long-term support that they really need.

By making sure your donations go to these important local charities, you are enabling their fantastic staff to support new rough sleepers off the street; prevent ex-rough sleepers returning to the street; and prevent vulnerably housed people becoming homeless. You can be assured that the money will be used to provide the right kind of help and support needed by those who are living on the streets, and you can find out more on our Make Your Change Count page. You can directly donate to these charities by visiting Stonepillow's website (opens new window); Heart Chichester's website (opens new window); and Four Streets Chichester's website (opens new window).

If you're concerned about someone who you believe to be sleeping rough then please let us know through Streetlink (opens new window). This referral will go directly to our team, and we'll then go out to find the individual and assess their needs. If you're unsure what information to include, then Streetlink's Facebook page (opens new window) includes a series of useful short videos outlining the types of details that help, such a good description of the person you are concerned about, and any geographical details to ensure the person can be found.

Since our Rough Sleeper Outreach Team was established five years ago, they have been working hard to help people turn their lives around and access specialist support and new opportunities. In conjunction with the charities mentioned, the team has been working on several projects which are having a positive difference on both the individuals concerned and the wider community.

As a council, we are often asked by residents about what we do for rough sleepers when severe weather is expected. You may be interested to know that in these situations there is process called the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol - known as SWEP for short - which is an initiative aimed at minimising harm to anyone who might be sleeping rough in severe weather. SWEP is triggered when we have weather warnings of near freezing temperatures, rain, snow, wind, chill, gales or heat, and provides emergency accommodation to people who are sleeping rough.

Whatever the weather, our Rough Sleeper Outreach Team are out every day speaking to rough sleepers to encourage them to take up the wide amount of support that is on offer all through the year.

Best Wishes

Oona Hickson, Cabinet Member for Housing, Revenues and Benefits at Chichester District Council