The Response and Offer for EEA Nationals

This guidance is to support local authorities and their partners to develop a strategic response and offer for European Economic Area Nationals who are rough sleeping.

The CHAIN database, national rough sleeping counts and recent estimates of the numbers of people sleeping rough on any one night have shown that the number of people sleeping rough from non-UK EEA countries is continuing to increase. In 2010/11 28% of verified rough sleepers recorded on CHAIN were from non-UK EEA countries. This is an increase in proportion to other rough sleepers for the fifth year in a row, with absolute numbers up by 20%.

However, by developing a strategic response and offer, there are a range of ways that people can be supported to move away from rough sleeping. The guidance outlines a range of interventions as well as presenting the sources of support and information that are available.