Supporting rough sleepers at Christmas
With Christmas nearly here, Worcester City Council is asking residents to let them know if they spot anyone sleeping rough on the city's streets.
Anyone who does spot a rough sleeper is urged to tell the Streetlink service at www.streetlink.org.uk or 0300 500 0914. Streetlink will pass the details through to the Council, who will then find the rough sleeper to check if they are already getting help and to offer them support, including accommodation, if they are not.
Arrangements are also in place in Worcester to open an emergency night shelter for anyone sleeping on the streets if there is adverse weather over Christmas and the winter months.
The City Council has been working with charities and health organisations to help rough sleepers and those at risk of homelessness throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since the first lockdown in March 2020, the City Council has helped 72 rough sleepers find long-term accommodation and is continuing to work with people living on the city's streets, in order to keep them safe.
Councillor Louise Griffiths, Chair of the City Council's Health and Wellbeing Committee, said: "The City Council and its partners have been working hard to support and accommodate rough sleepers and people at risk of homelessness, but despite all the services available you may sometimes still see people on the street. We are asking people to let us know if they see rough sleepers by contacting Streetlink at www.streetlink.org.uk or by calling 0300 500 0914."
Worcester residents can support homeless people by making donations to the registered charity partners that work with the City Council to help and support rough sleepers: