Rough sleeper street walks

A pilot scheme has been introduced to enhance existing housing and support services in Stratford-on-Avon District.

Starting in February Coventry Cyrenians and Cranstoun will be carrying out street walks on one morning per week in order to engage with and assist any rough sleepers they encounter.

The street walk scheme, jointly funded by Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Public Health within NHS Warwickshire, is intended to identify those who are rough sleeping in the District. The help provided, which includes signposting to potential accommodation providers, aims to assist rough sleepers with engaging with services, including health and housing, in order to get them off the streets.

The District Council is required to provide a figure to central Government each year showing the number of rough sleepers in its area. In November 2011, the District Council reported 12 rough sleepers, up from 8 rough sleepers reported in November 2010.

Councillor Valerie Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Enterprise, Housing and Revenues said: “I fully support this very important initiative. Rough sleeping is the most extreme form of homelessness we encounter and it is recognised that in order to divert people from rough sleeping it is essential to engage with them at the earliest opportunity. I believe the street walk scheme will achieve this and am pleased that the District Council, working with its partners Coventry Cyrenians and Cranstoun, has enabled it."

Anyone who sees someone they believe to be rough sleeping can report a description of the person and their location to Vicky Rutter, Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Homelessness Prevention officer by calling 01789 260 850 or via Vicky.rutter@stratford-dc.gov.uk