Plans to keep rough sleepers off Peterborough streets when lockdown eased

Members of the council’s Cabinet discussed how to keep rough sleepers off the streets when the coronavirus lockdown is eased.


Speaking to members at the historic first online Cabinet meeting (Monday, May 11), Cllr Steve Allen said: “We must commend our officers who have so swiftly managed to house all of the rough sleepers in Peterborough throughout this emergency in what must’ve been quite a daunting task.

“Having now got them indoors and away from their lifestyle on the streets, have we found any new ways to support them going forward, has there been any national initiatives or guidance to help us keep them off the streets once this pandemic is over?”

Executive Director for Place and Economy, Steve Cox said: “There was an announcement just over a week ago of a new initiative Chaired by Dame Louise Casey, who is spearheading the government’s response on rough sleeping, thanks those who have worked to support 5400 rough sleepers off the streets in the country over the past month.

“The aim is to develop a national Task Force who can find long-term safe housing for people in emergency accommodation – it is a plan to end rough sleeping after COVID-19.
“Once this crisis is over, we need to find safe accommodation for our rough sleepers and get them out of the hotels and hostels. The Task Force will also look at their physical and mental health needs.


“We are currently working with our partner organisations and associations to be ready for that Task Force when they contact us and find in Peterborough long-term safe housing solutions for our rough-sleepers.”
Cllr Allen asked: “Do you feel that these people can genuinely find a new pathway for the future? If so, then that would be a great outcome of what this council and the Task Force have provided from this crisis.”
Steve Cox replied: “I think there’s a real opportunity here – the COVID-19 emergency is unprecedented in many ways and one of the unprecedented aspects of it is that unlike any time in the past, we’ve been able to work very closely with the rough-sleepers of the city and find out what they want and need.

“We’ve been able to give them support while they’ve been in hotel accommodation, and talk with them so that hopefully there is a chance, post-recovery, to persuade them not to return to a rough lifestyle on the streets that they’ve become used to.
“The pathways are there. The national Task Force will, I think, be a huge step in the right direction to give future help and support and from them, we can aim to achieve what we want for our rough sleepers.”