Posted 20.12.12
As the Festive season begins in earnest and another cold snap is predicted, concerned members of the public are being urged to contact the new StreetLink hotline or website if they see someone sleeping rough.
Since its launch earlier in the month, StreetLink has received over 700 calls and emails from people. Some 200 calls were made in the first 24 hours of operation.
Matt Harrison, the Homless Link director leading on StreetLink, wants to continue to harness the public's goodwill and keep the momentum going. He said:
"As people are out and about over Christmas, we are asking them to keep their eyes open for people sleeping rough. Taxi drivers, shift workers, late-night shoppers - everyone can make a difference.
"All people need to do is make a note of the StreetLink number, or bookmark the webpage, and get in touch if they see someone on the streets.
"The StreetLink approach is proven to work and the public are the vital first step in that process."
Over 2,000 people sleep rough in England every night. Research from Homeless Link shows two things - that people want to help rough sleepers but don't know how; and that rough sleepers are unaware of the services available to help them. StreetLink offers a simple, effective solution to both of these barriers.
StreetLink is run by charities Homeless Link and Broadway. It is funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Greater London Authority, as part of the commitment to end rough sleeping in England.
The StreetLink website is at www.streetlink.org.uk and the telephone number for use by the public is 0300 500 0914.
Eviction Risk Hotspots Revealed
Posted 14.12.12
New figures from Shelter reveal that 1 in every 115 households across England is at risk of homelessness.
In the 12 months to September 2012, 198,470 households were threatened with losing their home - equal to cities the size of Liverpool or Bristol being evicted or repossessed.
The figures also show:
The figures in any area can be seen on Shelter's interactive map.
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Street Impact Designed to Help Rough Sleepers Rebuild their Lives
Posted 14.12.12
A new social impact bond, designed to alleviate homelessness in London, is the result of an innovative new partnership between corporate investors St Mungo's and the Greater London Authority.
The Street Impact programme will be delivered by St Mungo's, with the aim of helping 400 people sleeping rough to rebuild their lives away from the streets.
The three-year funding to St Mungo's is through a Mayor of London commissioned payment-by-results contract, successfully secured through Triodos Corporate Finance and social investment fund CAF Venturesome.
The Mayor has agreed the contract, which will enable St Mungo's to earn up to £2.4 million. It is designed to remunerate them for achieving prescribed targets with a group of around 400 named rough sleepers in central, north and west London.
The targets include achieving sustained accommodation, reduction in visits to A&E hospital departments, supporting people into volunteering or work, or re-connections overseas.
CAF Venturesome and Triodos Corporate Finance raised £650,000 upfront working capital needed by St Mungo's, by way of a social impact bond.
