Over the past fortnight, some 20 organisations and agencies across the city united on a targeted new scheme to offer beds and support to rough sleepers
The last two weeks have seen a determined effort by Birmingham City Council and a host of partners to tackle rough sleeping across the region.
The council’s fortnight-long Indoors Campaign was launched on 29th September. As well as those involved in the statutory and commissioned support services for rough sleepers provided across Birmingham, the new campaign brought together some 20 partners ranging from faith groups, those in the voluntary and health sectors and the providers of supported exempt accommodation.
(‘Supported exempt’ is the term for a resettlement place or other accommodation provided by a council, housing association, registered charity or voluntary organisation which provides care, support or supervision and is exempt from certain provisions of housing benefit.)
The aim was to pool the efforts and resources of these different bodies to ensure that anyone who has been sleeping rough stays in accommodation beyond the end of the campaign.
Over the course of the fortnight, the campaign partners targeted support at some 15 individuals in such ways as facilitating access to accommodations and health services, or though ongoing case management. By focusing on a small group, the campaign was able to make significant progress, says the council. The support for them will continue over coming months to increase the chances of recovery from homelessness.
The campaign also coincided with World Homeless Day on 10th October, as well as an announcement by the government that Birmingham will receive an additional £1.4m to help prevent homelessness and support families over the winter.
Cllr Nicky Brennan, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness at Birmingham City Council, says: ‘This campaign is about helping long-term rough sleepers to move indoors and stay indoors. The causes of homelessness are rarely simple. No one organisation can address all the issues that long-term rough sleepers face. The Indoors Campaign has been important for this reason. It brought organisations together to tackle the complex problems faced by long-term rough sleepers.
‘To support these citizens, the campaign has been conscious of the need to take a different approach. It has been about asking these individuals what they need and then drawing on multiple organisations working together intensively for these two weeks to provide wrap-around support.
‘We know that breaking the cycle of rough sleeping is difficult, however having spoken to many of the organisations involved, I am heartened to have heard stories of breakthroughs and small steps forward that we can now build upon. I would once again like to give my thanks to all the organisations involved in this campaign, as well as those with lived experience who have helped shape it.’
Of the new government funding for Birmingham, Cllr Brennan adds: ‘The Labour government is committed to ending homelessness and rough sleeping, and through this additional funding we will be able to continue our work here in Birmingham to prevent homelessness, support children and families in temporary accommodation, and help rough sleepers to get a roof over their heads. This funding will help us to build on the work of our Indoors Campaign.’
Photo by Tom W via UnSplash
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