Rough sleeping more than halved in Bedford since 2017

The Rough Sleeper estimate is carried out by local authorities across the country on a nominated night every November.

The November 2019 estimate (supported by a street count) showed 30 people sleeping rough in Bedford Borough, compared to 76 in 2017 and 51 in 2018.

According to figures released this morning by the Government, Bedford Borough has seen the tenth largest decrease in England in the number of people rough sleeping from 2018-2019.

In addition to this official estimate, Bedford Borough Council maintains a fortnightly estimate and bi-monthly count of the number of people sleeping rough, working in partnership with local organisations and agencies.

This ensures that the council has accurate knowledge of everyone sleeping rough locally, and through outreach teams, is engaging with these individuals to offer support where they can.

This reduction has followed innovative and proactive steps by the Council and its partners, including opening a ‘Somewhere Safe to Stay Hub’ in Autumn last year, providing beds every single night of the year for people who are sleeping rough.

The Hub operates 24 hours a day, offering housing advice, support services, and somewhere safe for people who are sleeping rough to stay for a short term. A number of organisations and support services work from the Hub, helping people find their way back into a settled home.

This Hub has joined other initiatives such as Clarence House, which provides support for those with the most complex needs; more outreach support encouraging vulnerable people to accept help; and additional accommodation.

Bedford Mayor Dave Hodgson said: “As a Council and with our partners, I am very proud that we have been able to successfully get people out of the cycle of rough sleeping, providing support to help vulnerable individuals back into settled accommodation.

"Keeping people off of the streets is not just about picking people up once they have fallen, but working with people to help them stay in housing. In our latest budget we have a further invested £100,000 in homelessness prevention.

"This is on top of the rough sleeper initiatives funding from the Government."

Bedford Borough Council has also secured just over £1million from the Government for 2020/21 to provide new and continued support services for those rough sleeping.

This funding ensures the future of the Somewhere Safe to Stay Hub for 2020/21, along with outreach support and accommodation.

It will also allow the council, working with partners including the East London Foundation Trust, to provide specialist support for those with both substance use and mental health problems.

Cllr Colleen Atkins, portfolio holder for housing, said: "To have more than halved the number of people sleeping rough in just two years is a real achievement and I am delighted that we have been able to help vulnerable people in our Borough to get support and get off the streets.

"We continue to engage with people sleeping rough, and providing support where we can and where individuals are willing to accept it.

"Through the Somewhere Safe to Stay Hub, Clarence House, outreach support with SMART at Prebend Street, the Nightshelter and the Kings Arms Project, the Council works throughout the year to keep helping some of the most vulnerable in our society."