Preston City Council is continuing to strengthen support for people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home, helping residents access safe, suitable and sustainable accommodation.
Since bringing in the rough sleeper and response programme in-house in 2021, the Council has expanded the support available across the city by working closely with partners. This includes early help to prevent homelessness, assistance for people sleeping rough, day and night services, and access to specialist support for people affected by substance dependency, domestic abuse and other complex circumstances.
Rebuilding Lives is the city’s new pathway, developed by the Council’s homelessness team. It outlines a series of steps to help people move from rough sleeping towards settled accommodation. Since the service was brought in-house, the Council’s homelessness team has supported almost 200 people through the pathway.
One success story is of a man, who was alcohol dependent and slept in a van parked on the outskirts of Preston. Following an initial Street Link alert - a service whereby someone reports a person who is sleeping rough, which can be done by anyone - the individual received sustained support from the Outreach Team through changing circumstances, accommodation breakdowns and periods of rough sleeping, before accessing detox, rehabilitation and the Rebuilding Lives pathway.
With continued tailored support, they have maintained their sobriety and secured a property that better meets their needs, providing a more stable foundation for the future.
Councillor Peter Kelly, Cabinet Member for Communities, Social Justice and the Night-Time Economy, said:
“We are proud of the Rebuilding Lives pathway and the dedication of our homelessness team in developing a clear and supportive route for those that need our support. Through the Rough Sleeper Team, people can access the pathway and receive support tailored to their individual circumstances, helping them take positive steps towards a more secure and independent future.
The pathway may begin with the ‘Bridge to Home’ service, formerly known as the Night Service and renamed by the people who use it. It provides a safe and warm place to stay while individuals work with support staff to explore suitable accommodation options and take their next steps towards living independently.
A key feature of the pathway is its flexibility and the way it responds to each person’s needs.
Councillor Peter Kelly continues;
“Our priority is to make sure people are not moved into accommodation before they are ready, as this can put a tenancy at risk. By providing the right home at the right time, alongside the right level of support, we can help people move forward at a pace that gives them the best possible chance of living independently and maintaining their tenancy. If someone’s circumstances change, we can increase that support to help prevent eviction and reduce the risk of them becoming homeless again.”
Alongside delivering direct support, the Council continues to review local need and improve how people access help. A multi-agency homelessness forum held in April provided an opportunity to identify pressures in Preston and inform the development of services, while keeping the Council’s homelessness support at the heart of the response.
Following the Government’s announcement on ending rough sleeping, Preston City Council will continue to develop a long-term plan to achieve this ambition in the city. Its priorities remain to prevent homelessness wherever possible, respond quickly when someone has nowhere safe to stay, and help people move towards a secure home.
Councillor Peter Kelly continued:
“Preston City Council welcomes the Government’s announcement and its ambition to replicate the success of the Everyone In programme, which showed what can be achieved when partners work together at pace to support people sleeping rough.
At the start of the pandemic, Preston City Council responded in less than 48 hours to provide accommodation for everyone who needed it. The additional benefit of this new announcement is the allocation of funding over three years, which will help us make a lasting difference for some of Preston’s most vulnerable residents.
We particularly welcome the Government’s recognition that rough sleeping is not simply a housing issue and that meaningful change requires a joined-up approach across housing, health, social care and substance misuse services.
We look forward to working with our partners to help get everyone into safe accommodation for Christmas.”
