Street outreach

Street outreach workers can facilitate the crucial first step from the street to independent living. This work is challenging and requires workers to be attentive, proactive and persistent. Movement in to mainstream support services is key to addressing the difficulties faced by rough sleepers and street outreach is the most direct engagement point for this.

Context

Street outreach teams offer a valuable support service to some of the most deeply excluded people in their communities. Street outreach workers facilitate the crucial first step from the street to independent living. This work is challenging and requires workers to be attentive, proactive and persistent to understand the individual needs of each rough sleeper. Movement in to mainstream support services is key to addressing the difficulties faced by rough sleepers and street outreach is the most direct engagement point for this. Rough sleepers are complex with individual needs, opinions, fears and desires, and good practice addresses these needs in the most supportive and appropriate ways.

Street outreach services differ in terms of structure and the ways they operate. Services work with different client groups in different areas and have different aims and methods of achieving these. However, all street outreach teams gradually build up relationships of trust and offer support to encourage the movement into positive lifestyles.

Solutions

Homeless Link has a comprehensive good practice guide covering all aspects of Street Outreach

If you are in London and want to report that someone is sleeping rough, then there is a list of the Street Outreach teams here.

Alternatively contact London Street Rescue.