Liverpool - key initiatives successfully tackling rough sleeping

Here is a brief outline of some aspects of good practice that is reducing numbers of people sleeping rough in Liverpool. View an accompanying interview by Homeless Link in summer 2010 with Anne Doyle, Homelessness Strategy Manager at Liverpool City Council.

Data and information

• Carrying out research and establishing the facts about the number of rough sleepers, including those who are entrenched and have had multiple contacts with services, and repeat homelessness
• A database to manage tracking, and an information sharing protocol to share knowledge of clients, their needs and who is providing services to them

Rough sleeping tracking group

• Multi-agency approach to tracking individuals and ensuring services meet their needs
• Monthly meetings with participants who include:
  • Liverpool City Council
  • Whitechapel Day Centre (outreach service, day services, night drop in centre, outreach team for street drinkers)
  • Mental health outreach team
  • Police
• A complex needs panel meets two weeks after each RSTG meeting

 Configuration of services

• Refocusing the work of services and outreach
• Whitechapel Day Centre now provides a new "enablement service" which offers a Places of Change-style service,  including training, education, health services, mental health services, and drug and alcohol services
• Focus on key role of preventative, housing options and floating support services
• Using funding flexibly for personal care
• Two tier cold weather provision: Tier 1 – Overnight winter shelter provision. Tier 2 – Increased outreach support plus ring-fenced hostel beds
• Reconnection of Central and Eastern European clients to support in home countries