Support for rough sleepers
The Street Homeless Prevention Team is carrying out more outreach work on the streets to locate rough sleepers and encouraging those found sleeping out to accept help.
Here are five of the best ways members of the public can help:
Report your concerns
If you are worried about a rough sleeper, please email streethomeless@southampton.gov.uk. It’s useful if you can share some information about the person, such as:
- Their name/nickname
- Gender
- Their approximate age
- A description
- Where and when you saw them
You don't have to give us your own details but it might be helpful if we need to contact you for more information. And remember you can also report rough sleepers in any part of the country on the national reporting site Street Link.
What if there’s an emergency related to a rough sleeper?
Please call 999 if you see someone who is unwell or distressed. Do not put yourself in danger or approach someone acting strangely, even to help.
Encourage rough sleepers to visit the Homeless Day Centre
People needing emergency shelter can approach us themselves by attending the Homeless Day Centre at 30 Cranbury Avenue, Southampton SO14 0LT.
The day centre is open daily, 10am-2pm. It provides facilities for people to have a shower, use the laundry, enjoy a hot meal, access IT equipment, and receive health advice from medical professionals.
Give responsibly
Whether or not you choose to give money to rough sleepers is a personal choice. Many people feel much more comfortable donating to established charities to make sure money goes towards someone who is homeless, rather than someone begging to sustain an addiction. You could offer someone a hot drink or some food, or simply stop to chat to them for a while.
Our partner agencies provide regularly updated information on the Street Support website. This online service not only allows those in need to find help, but also shows others where they can give help.
Volunteer
If you are interested in doing more to help rough sleepers in the city, please visit Street Support, where you can find lots of information and advice about volunteering.
Change The Way You Give
This initiative enables people to support rough sleepers by donating through GoFundMe. The donations go straight to local charities Two Saints, No Limits and Society of St James.
