Charity will offer help to homeless people spotted by Westminster residents and businesses
Westminster council will next month launch the UK's first hotline for members of the public to report rough sleepers in the central London borough.

Once alerted, outreach workers from homelessness charity Thames Reach Bondway will visit the rough sleepers to offer them help.

Simon Milton, leader of Westminster council, said: "The helpline lets us find out about people who are new to the streets or who are sleeping in out-of-the-way places.

"Often, new rough sleepers are particularly vulnerable and it is vital our teams meet them and offer them assistance as early as possible.

"Part of our strategy is to move people off the streets quickly before they become entrenched. The helpline will help this."

Thames Reach Bondway hopes to expand the scheme to other parts of the capital and plans to seek local authority funding for this.

Chief executive Jeremy Swain said: "The helpline allows people to help in a way that is much more effective than giving loose change to beggars, encouraging drug dependency and a continuation of a street lifestyle."

Westminster frequently has the largest population of rough sleepers in London.

Its most recent count, in April this year, found 175 rough sleepers in the borough.

It has taken a number of stringent measures to reduce street homelessness, including withdrawing street-based services from rough sleepers except those who are young, mentally ill or vulnerable in another way.

Alice Evans, policy officer of homelessness charity Broadway said: "A lot of people are concerned about rough sleepers and think nothing is being done, so it's good to have an number for them to relay their concerns.

"But there would be a problem if it's misused by people to get rough sleepers to move on from their area."

A trial of the helpline has been running for the past six months in Westminster and 70 rough sleepers were contacted as a result.

In the pilot, the phone number was emailed to a few businesses and residents.

Now, the number – 020 7641 3841 – will be publicised in the council's free magazine.

The pilot cost £1200 in its first three months and was integrated into the council's £250m customer service budget thereafter.

Source

Housing Today