Support on offer for Peterborough's rough sleepers

In April, rough sleepers were advised to come off the streets and were moved into hotel accommodation, by Peterborough City Council following Government advice and financial support.

At its peak in Peterborough, 123 rough sleepers were housed in hotels in partnership with Light Project Peterborough. Peterborough Soup Kitchen and Three Pillars - Safer Off the Streets partners and many more community members - supported in providing 23,000 meals and valuable support such as laundry services.

This city-wide effort persuaded many rough sleepers to leave their lives on the street and to accept offers of more permanent accommodation. So far we have successfully resettled 80 rough sleepers into settled accommodation. They are now working to rebuild their lives receiving support from the Light Project Peterborough multi-agency Floating Support services funded by the Rough Sleeper Initiative. Cross Keys Homes and Longhurst Group are also part of this team.

The plan for the second lockdown which will start tomorrow (5 November) is for these 39 remaining former rough sleepers to be moved from hotel accommodation to longer term temporary accommodation development.

There they will have self-contained flats – instead of hotel rooms – but will benefit from floating support to help with any difficulties they may be having in adjusting to their new lives, including budgeting, food shopping and household management. This support is needed as for many this will be the first time they have had to do this for a number of years.

Peterborough City Councils Rough Sleeper Outreach Officers conduct outreach on a daily basis. Currently there are 5 people sleeping rough in Peterborough, a reduction from 35 at the start of the year. These individuals have also been offered a place in temporary accommodation.

Steven Pettican, from Light Project Peterborough, said: “This represents a fresh start for these former rough sleepers. They have now been off the streets for many months and are mostly very positive about starting to rebuild their lives.”

Christine Graham, chair of the Safer Off the Streets partnership, said: “All our Safer Off the Streets partners are doing whatever we can to support these former rough sleepers, to help them adjust to more independent living. This really is a one-city approach.”

Councillor Steve Allen, cabinet member for housing at Peterborough City Council, said: “Rough sleeping in Peterborough has fallen sharply through the Covid-19 pandemic, with many realising that they want a roof over their heads again. Thanks to the wider Safer Off the Streets partnership, we have been able to provide that in a supported way, a way in which gives them the maximum chance of success.”