THE number of rough sleepers in Warrington has fallen significantly according to the latest Government data – with Warrington Borough Council currently not aware of any as of today.
Over the last year, the number of rough sleepers in the borough has reduced from 16 to one, thanks to partners working together to get everyone into safe accommodation.
These figures are part of the government’s annual national rough sleeper count, which took place between 1 October and 30 November 2020. The number of people sleeping rough in Warrington has reduced from 16 in 2019 to one in 2020, with no one confirmed to be sleeping rough as of today that the council is aware of.
In recent years, a proactive approach has been taken by the council and partner organisations to significantly reduce the number of people sleeping rough in the borough.
The partnership of local organisations, including the council, James Lee House, Haven House, Museum Street, the Verve, Change Grow Live (CGL), Vulnerable Tenants Support Service (VTSS), and women’s refuge have worked together to ensure that homeless people in Warrington have access to appropriate advice, support services, and accommodation.
To support the work already being undertaken, funding secured as part of the government’s ‘everyone in’ initiative at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, helped the partnership to work with local hotels and B&Bs to break down more barriers to provide accommodation for some of the town’s most vulnerable people.
The work undertaken ensured that people sleeping rough, or at risk of sleeping rough, were able to access supported accommodation during the first lockdown, and this work has continued so that – nearly one year on – every homeless person who makes themselves known to services is offered single room accommodation.
In order to continue to keep people safe after the initial lockdown period ended, an additional service was set up at Museum Street to safely accommodate 25 people, which is managed by staff from Room at the Inn. Currently, due to people requiring single rooms under the national lockdown restrictions, there are 101 rooms available for people who need them, including two rooms for couples.
Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for public health, wellbeing and housing, said: “Our priority is, and will always be, protecting our most vulnerable people. The focused and determined work of our homelessness team and all our partners has made a huge impact this year, and it’s wonderful not only to have this officially verified, but also now to be able to say that as of today there is no one sleeping rough in Warrington.
“We want to ensure that everyone has access to safe accommodation and appropriate support services. We’ve been working with our partners for many years to reduce the number of people sleeping rough in Warrington, offering a range of services so they are able to access help for mental and physical health issues where needed, and this will continue in the future.
“Even though it’s good news that we’ve been able to reduce the number of people sleeping rough, we are mindful that there is still pressure in the system due to coronavirus and the ongoing restrictions. Under the current restrictions, evictions have not been taking place, so we are aware that as restrictions are eased we may see more people presenting as homeless. However, we will continue to ensure we offer the right support to those who need it the most as even one person sleeping rough is one too many.”
The council’s Homelessness and Housing Advice service has continued with their outreach programme throughout the pandemic. Officers go out daily to ensure connection with people sleeping rough is consistent, and to work with them to offer the opportunity to engage with services and move into accommodation.
If you, or someone you know needs support around possibly being homeless, the council’s Homelessness and Housing Advice Service, based at The Gateway on Sankey Street, is open to the public Monday to Friday, between 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm.
The service provides advice and support for rough sleepers, including access to accommodation, to prevent and relieve homelessness, and a range of advice and assistance with housing-related matters.
The service can be contacted in the following ways:
•Call: 01925 246 868
•Email: [email protected]
•Online: warrington.gov.uk/homelessness-and-housing-advice-service
•To report concerns about a rough sleeper, visit: warrington.gov.uk/roughsleepers
•For out of hours emergencies (evenings and weekends), please telephone 01925 444400 and ask for the Duty Homelessness Officer
