Rough sleeping

The primary role of the our two Street Outreach Workers is to deliver an assertive outreach service to people who are sleeping rough and to provide them with the encouragement and support to access emergency housing and support.

Using the intelligence they have gathered from a variety of sources (including members of the public) the Street Outreach Workers will visit all areas of the borough (including woods, parks and cemeteries) where it is known or suspected that someone may be sleeping rough.

Every week, the Street Outreach Workers undertake at least two outreach sessions (one very early in the morning and the other very late at night) to find, and engage with, people who are sleeping rough in Northampton.

In addition to the twice-weekly outreach sessions, the Street Outreach Workers hold regular housing advice surgeries in Oasis House and the Guildhall.

The Street Outreach Workers’ priority is to intervene as early as possible in order to prevent homelessness and reduce, to an absolute minimum, the time people spend sleeping rough. To do this, they negotiate with landlords and families and help people access the Nightshelter, local housing projects and the private rented sector.

Many of the people sleeping rough in Northampton have previously been let down by local charities and services. Establishing a rapport with them, and gaining their trust, can take time but this is something that the Outreach Workers are very good at.