Teignbridge District Council (TDC) is committed to reducing street homelessness, and where possible it will provide people who are sleeping rough with an offer of accommodation and the support they require to sustain that accommodation.
The traditional Christmas story of a family struggling to find accommodation reminds us all of the plight of those who are homeless or sleeping rough on our streets – especially at this time of year.
Teignbridge District Council (TDC) is committed to reducing street homelessness, and where possible it will provide people who are sleeping rough with an offer of accommodation and the support they require to sustain that accommodation.
Through TDC’s Housing Solutions Service, council staff work with families and single people to prevent and relieve homelessness. The district council operates a number of interventions focused specifically on supporting people who are sleeping rough within the district.
These include:
A range of temporary accommodation options including self-contained leased accommodation; a 10-bed supported accommodation project in Newton Abbot and 10 properties in Teignbridge exclusively available to people with a recent history of street homelessness.
Our Street Homeless Service through which a dedicated Rough Sleeper Co-ordinator and Rough Sleeper Navigator make outreach visits on average two/ three mornings per week, responding to reports of people seen to have been sleeping rough within Teignbridge. The team also provides tailored support to people who have been sleeping rough locally.
A Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), co-ordinated by our Rough Sleeper Coordinator. The MDT covers Teignbridge, South Hams and West Devon. Key statutory and non-statutory agencies meet monthly, with the aim of removing barriers to service access and providing holistic, joined-up support to people who are rough sleeping, or who have a recently slept rough.
The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP): During winter months, we will consider activating the Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) protocol when the Met Office issues warnings for severe weather or extreme cold. Under this, additional services and in some instances, temporary accommodation, may be offered to people known to be rough sleeping who may otherwise may be excluded from, or ineligible for accommodation.
If you see someone sleeping rough within the district, you can report this either by:
-Calling Teignbridge Council on our main number, 01626 361101.
-Reporting the sighting via StreetLink https://streetlink.force.com/StreetLink_HomePage Our Outreach Team will be notified via email and will aim to conduct a site visit on the next working day.
-By emailing housing@teignbridge.gov.uk
Cllr Jackie Hook, TDC Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “It’s distressing at any time of year to see a person who is homeless or is sleeping rough on the streets. It’s especially sad during the cold winter months and at Christmas – when most people’s minds are turning to gathering indoors around a warm fire – to see any of our fellow human beings huddled against the elements on the pavement.
“We’re determined to do all we can to help those who have become homeless and to intervene where possible to prevent homelessness happening in the first place. Our teams work hard to make life easier for people caught in the homelessness trap. If anyone sees a person sleeping rough we would like to hear from you via the channels listed above”.
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