Cambridge City Council and its partners have worked tirelessly over several years to reduce the number of people sleeping on the streets.
However, our assessment is that there is still an average of six people rough sleeping on any given night in the city.
We are committed to reducing this number still further.
The government has promised to reduce rough sleeping to as near to zero as possible and is working closely with local authorities to achieve this.
The council is responsible for coordinating the work of a wide range of agencies and organisations in an effort to reduce rough sleeping in Cambridge.
It is being particularly helped by the voluntary sector agencies, Cambridgeshire Social Services, the Cambridgeshire Drug & Alcohol Action Team, Cambridge City Primary Care Group, Lifespan Healthcare, Addenbrookes NHS Trust and Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
What do we mean by rough sleeping?
Anyone who spends periods of time sleeping on the streets, in car parks, in doorways, under bushes, in disused or derelict buildings or railway carriages could be classed a 'rough sleeper'.
These people may also spend time in some of the city's hostels for homeless people, or sleep on friends' floors from time to time, but essentially their lives are sufficiently chaotic and distressed that sleeping out appears safer, or more appealing, or the only alternative.
How many people are sleeping rough in Cambridge?
2009
| Month | Number |
|---|---|
| April | 1 |
| November | 5 |
2010
| Month | Number |
|---|---|
| April | 6 |
| November | 6 |
The number highlighted above represents a 'full' street count. The results of these counts are submitted to central government.
How do we count homeless people?
The government has revised how rough sleeping is counted across the country, to ensure that we have a more consistent and accurate evaluation of the number of people sleeping rough.
The methodology of the council's street count was amended in line with the revised guidance, for the November 2010 count.
The council is confident that the work undertaken with our voluntary and statutory sector partners means that we have a clear picture of all the people who sleep rough in the city.
With this in mind the council will now undertake a yearly estimate in line with the following guidance.
Evaluating the Extent of Rough Sleeping: A new approach
If a local authority chooses not to conduct a formal rough sleeper count, it should provide an annual estimate to Communities and Local Government to help inform the national picture on rough sleeping. Many local authorities have accurate information on rough sleeping numbers in their area and a robust estimate will provide the same information.
Local intelligence gathering should support estimates. The estimate should record as a single figure the number of people thought to be rough sleeping in the local authority area on a typical night and it should be as robust as possible.
This process of gathering intelligence is also suggested as good practice in deciding whether to carry out a full count and in preparation for a count. Because this process may lead to the local authority choosing to carry out a count (which takes six weeks to organise), it is recommended that it is started as early as possible in the period between 1 October and 30 November.
The council receives weekly reports from the Crime Reductions Initiative's street outreach team who carry out regular street sessions, especially first thing in the morning and late at night. This information feeds into the regular allocation and resettlement meeting, which is a multi agency meeting of voluntary and statutory partners, where additional intelligence is collected.
The information that it passes to us helps us to know the extent of rough sleeping in the city and the specific needs of those who are sleeping rough.
Coming in from the cold
'Coming in from the Cold' is the title of the a government report on reducing rough sleeping.
It recognises that while many people have been helped off the street by the hard work and commitment of professionals working for front line homelessness agencies, many problems stand in the way of those remaining on the streets.
These problems can include alcohol and drug problems, mental health difficulties, and histories of institutionalisation such as time served in prison, service in the armed forces, or long-term psychiatric treatment.
Another large factor is the emotional difficulties that may be associated with both becoming homeless in the first place, and remaining marginalized and excluded for (in some cases) many years.
Trained and skilled staff work carefully with rough sleepers trying to encourage them to make a move off the street, but sometimes the streets feel like the only security a person has.
They can be intimidated by the idea of hostels or shelters, and feel more in control of their lives knowing that they can 'disappear' whenever they want.
Our aim is to make the option of coming in more attractive than that of staying out - but it takes time and a lot of hard work.
What is happening to combat rough sleeping?
The council aims to:
- reduce the number of people sleeping rough in Cambridge to 10 or less, and to maintain that reduction
- prevent a new generation of rough sleepers
- give homeless people a voice and help they need to fulfil their potential
- work with and support agencies in Cambridge that share our aims
- set up in partnership with the NHS, police, Adult Social Care, and the Voluntary agencies, to deliver a national pilot to address the Chronic exclusion of homeless people
- assist people to return to an area of the country where they have a local connection or to an area where accommodation and support can be found. Read about how we prioritise services for homeless people
How will this be achieved?
The council aims to:
The council has worked closely with its principal partners to develop the Homelessness strategy action plan 2009-12.
The strategy sets out twenty eight tasks that the council and its partners need to undertake in order to achieve their aims. it will be reviewed in 2010-11.
We will create a 20-bed assessment centre in place of thecurrent 31-bed night shelter, in partnership with Jimmy's Ltd, Zion Baptist Church and CLG places of Change programme, to ensure that rough sleeping clients are given the very best opportunity to come of and stay off the streets.
Jimmy's provides accommodation that:
- enables people to address their issues, leave the streets and lead safer, more construtive and more responsible lives
- provides advice and referrals to services such as primary health care, substance misuse services, housing and benefits
- works in partnership with a range of agencies to achieve the best outcomes for our clients
You can contact Jimmy's on 01223 576085 or at admin@jimmyscambridge.org.uk.
The council has a contract with the CRI Street Outreach Team.
The Street Outreach Team identifies and works with people on the streets, including:
- People sleeping rough on the streets
- People who drink alcohol or use drugs on the streets
- People who beg for money from passers by
- Sex workers on the streets
The Street Outreach Team:
- Enables people to address their issues, leave the streets and lead safer, more constructive and more responsible lives
- Provides advice and referrals to services such as primary health care, substance misuse services, housing and benefits
- Works in partnership with a range of agencies to achieve the best outcomes for our clients
- Advocates for clients seeking accommodation
You can contact the Street Outreach Team on 01223 366292 or sotcambridge@crinet.co.uk
