Homelessness and Rough Sleeping
The Care Act 2014 sets out specific legal responsibilities for Adult Social Care Depts. and other key partner agencies in relation to homelessness. ‘Care and support needs’ are defined by the Care Act (2014) guidance and include mental and physical ill-health, substance misuse and acquired brain injury.
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG)
Working across housing, social care and safeguarding to tackle long-term rough sleeping: Webinar
In November 2024 MHCLG ran a webinar to share research and best practice with colleagues across the homelessness and safeguarding adults sectors, to support effective multi-disciplinary working to help resolve rough sleeping for vulnerable individuals.
The objectives of the webinar were:
- To share examples of what has worked in achieving effective partnership working between rough sleeping, adult social care and safeguarding teams and organisations in local areas.
- To discuss how safeguarding can be used to end a person’s rough sleeping by providing examples of how this is being addressed in specific areas.
- To create connections across local authorities to support further sharing of information and skills when creating partnerships across rough sleeping, adult social care and safeguarding teams.
The presentations and wider information focussed on how we can identify effective solutions for vulnerable individuals, to help them achieve a sustainable end to their long-term rough sleeping
Please see videos below
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Homeless Link – Bitesize learning: Supporting adults and young people through safeguarding.
Homeless Link have created six bitesize (30-minute) sessions to give frontline staff working in homelessness services the knowledge and skills to better support people who are facing multiple disadvantage (also known as multiple and/or complex needs) and are at risk of or are experiencing homelessness.
The sessions are delivered by Fiona Bateman, Safeguarding Consultant from Safeguarding Circle and Bruno Ornelas, Head of Homelessness at Concrete and Safeguarding Consultant.
All sessions are free to watch, thanks to funding from The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, as part of the Capacity Building programme.
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If you are concerned about someone who is sleeping rough, please contact StreetLink:
Streetlink is an independent charity we work with to locate people sleeping on the streets and find them a place to stay.
By calling 0300 500 0914
Via Street Link’s Android app or iPhone app
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Apply for help
You need to gather certain information and documents before you ask for help.
If you can, fill in our online form before you contact us.
This helps us to help you more quickly.
Other ways to ask for help
You can also call us or come to our office.
If you come to our office, someone will be able to help you fill in the form.
Call us
020 8921 2863
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
020 8854 8888
Monday to Friday after 5pm, and weekends.
Come to our office
The Woolwich Centre
35 Wellington Street
London
SE18 6HQ
Monday to Friday, 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm.
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Other Services
Woolwich service user project (WSUP)
Drop In – WSUP – Woolwich Service Users Project – Homeless drop in Woolwich (wsupwoolwich.org)
No booking or appointment required. Just come along and you’ll receive a warm welcome. We provide a safe, non-judgemental environment where our guests can have access to:
- hot meals
- showers
- haircuts
- a laundry service
- a clothing bank
We’re here for those facing poverty, homelessness, addiction, mental illness, or any life challenges. Our doors are open to everyone in our community who needs us.
Find us at:
107 Brookhill Road
Woolwich
London
SE18 6BJ
Our opening times are:
Monday 10am to 3pm
Tuesday 10am to 2pm
Saturday 10am to 2pm
Greenwich Homeless Project
Home – Greenwich Homeless Project
Our Day Centre is open all year round and is open to anyone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Greenwich Homeless Project
360 Middle Park Avenue
Eltham
SE9 5QH
Winter Night Shelter
Our Winter Night Shelter is open between October and March and provides single room emergency accommodation. Guests receive 1:1 casework, dinner and breakfast and a single room. People are referred into the shelter through our Day Centre or our partnered referral agencies.
If you are in urgent need of support, please contact Streetlink on 0300 500 0914.
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Useful Links for professionals
Radical Safeguarding Toolkit – Homelessness: https://www.researchinpractice.org.uk/adults/content-pages/open-access-resources/radical-safeguarding-toolkit-for-homelessness/
Voices Care Act Toolkit: https://homeless.org.uk/knowledge-hub/the-care-act-and-social-care-assessments/
Multiple Exclusion Homelessness Toolkit: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/hscwru/assets/news/2023/nov/safeguarding-multiple-exclusion-homelessness-toolkit-2023.pdf
LNNM Self-Neglect Guidance: https://homelesshealthnetwork.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Self-neglect-guidance-July-2023.pdf
Museum of Homelessness – Dying Homeless Project: https://museumofhomelessness.org/dhp
National Peer Network for Rough Sleeping Social Workers: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/a-national-peer-network-for-social-workers-specialising-in-homelessness-and-rough-sleeping
Local Govt Association briefings: https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/adult-safeguarding-and-homelessness-briefing-positive-practice and https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/adult-safeguarding-and-homelessness-experience-informed-practice