Rough Sleeping Strategy Consultation

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Our vision for the city and rough sleepers is simple:

As a City we will work collectively to prevent people from having to sleep rough and will ensure that every individual person who is sleeping on the street will receive help and advice to secure and maintain accommodation with the aim of eliminating rough sleeping in the City by 2022.

The vision has three core pillars:-


Core Pillar 1 - To prevent new people from starting to sleep rough
What we will do -
  1. Early universal advice and information to seek to prevent people from needing to sleep rough will be available to all.
  2. As a City we will develop robust discharge pathways to ensure that no-one leaves hospital with nowhere to go.
  3. As a City we will ensure there are similar processes in place for those leaving prison.
  4. As a City we will ensure that all agencies are clear and understand their obligations under the Duty to Refer to refer any individual who is homeless or threatened with homelessness to the Councils Homeless Service.
  5. Through our multi-agency partnerships, the Partnership will ensure early identification of people at risk of rough sleeping and provide appropriate interventions.
  6. The commissioned services will provide support and are accessible to those with complex needs and those who are at risk of rough sleeping.
  7. Effective information sharing systems will be in place to enable a rapid response to those approaching crisis.
  8. Advice and education regarding the signs, triggers and realities of rough sleeping for the wider public will be available, including in schools, colleges, and health and social care partners.
  9. Policy decisions and changes will consider the impact on rough sleepers.
  10. Our work with our combined authority colleagues will ensure we share best practice, raise awareness and where the opportunity arises, share resources to tackle rough sleeping across the region.



Core Pillar 2 - To intervene rapidly when people start to sleep rough to help them off the street
What we will do –
  1. As a partnership we will have a case management approach to those rough sleeping in Coventry, which is shared and signed up to by all partners.
  2. We will work collectively to understand the barriers those sleeping rough face in getting off the street. Once we have identified the barriers, we will work cohesively to remove them wherever possible.
  3. All our rough sleepers will know what health care provision is available and how to access it.
  4. Hot and cold weather provision will be in place and the public will be informed regarding what shelter and provision is available for rough sleepers in extreme elements.
  5. We will work as a partnership to develop and provide drop-in and hub facilities in the City, which offer somewhere for rough sleepers to go.
  6. Once identified, as a partnership we will work quickly to get rough sleepers into services, ensuring that the accommodation that we offer does not exacerbate their complexities.
  7. Community safety and the police will where necessary use their enforcement powers where rough sleepers and their behaviours impact the public and issues and concerns will be dealt with swiftly, consistently and appropriately.
  8. The Council will work with MHCLG to ensure effective use of the funding we have received to support those who find themselves on the street.
  9. The partnership will work to coordinate all the efforts across the city to ensure we are not duplicating work and interventions with individuals to echo the One Coventry approach.



Core Pillar 3 - To promote a person's recovery once they are off the street to build positive lives and so they do not return to rough sleeping
What we will do -
  1. As a City partnership we will maximise the potential that Housing First offers to the City.
  2. We will collectively provide a menu of options that best meets their individual needs when transitioning from rough sleeping to a settled home.
  3. The Council will build relationships and develop agreements with both RSL landlords and the private rented sector, to support them if they house rough sleepers – including, in some cases, financial support.
  4. There will be multi-agency case management approach to supporting a person to sustain their tenancy.
  5. All partners will work with the individual so that they understand the consequences of their choice if they return to the streets, including in some cases prosecution.
  6. Ex-rough sleepers will be supported to access employment and training opportunities.
  7. Ex-rough sleepers will be supported to ensure are receiving full benefit entitlement.
  8. Where an ex-rough sleeper has on-going health needs, they will know how they can access health care and any social care support.
  9. As a City we will have an alternative giving scheme that provides an alternative for the public who want to give money to rough sleepers who are begging.


The consultation on the Rough Sleeping Strategy has now concluded. We would like to thank everybody who contributed. Have a look back here on Let's Talk Coventry for updates as the process continues.

Our vision for the city and rough sleepers is simple:

As a City we will work collectively to prevent people from having to sleep rough and will ensure that every individual person who is sleeping on the street will receive help and advice to secure and maintain accommodation with the aim of eliminating rough sleeping in the City by 2022.

The vision has three core pillars:-


Core Pillar 1 - To prevent new people from starting to sleep rough
What we will do -
  1. Early universal advice and information to seek to prevent people from needing to sleep rough will be available to all.
  2. As a City we will develop robust discharge pathways to ensure that no-one leaves hospital with nowhere to go.
  3. As a City we will ensure there are similar processes in place for those leaving prison.
  4. As a City we will ensure that all agencies are clear and understand their obligations under the Duty to Refer to refer any individual who is homeless or threatened with homelessness to the Councils Homeless Service.
  5. Through our multi-agency partnerships, the Partnership will ensure early identification of people at risk of rough sleeping and provide appropriate interventions.
  6. The commissioned services will provide support and are accessible to those with complex needs and those who are at risk of rough sleeping.
  7. Effective information sharing systems will be in place to enable a rapid response to those approaching crisis.
  8. Advice and education regarding the signs, triggers and realities of rough sleeping for the wider public will be available, including in schools, colleges, and health and social care partners.
  9. Policy decisions and changes will consider the impact on rough sleepers.
  10. Our work with our combined authority colleagues will ensure we share best practice, raise awareness and where the opportunity arises, share resources to tackle rough sleeping across the region.



Core Pillar 2 - To intervene rapidly when people start to sleep rough to help them off the street
What we will do –
  1. As a partnership we will have a case management approach to those rough sleeping in Coventry, which is shared and signed up to by all partners.
  2. We will work collectively to understand the barriers those sleeping rough face in getting off the street. Once we have identified the barriers, we will work cohesively to remove them wherever possible.
  3. All our rough sleepers will know what health care provision is available and how to access it.
  4. Hot and cold weather provision will be in place and the public will be informed regarding what shelter and provision is available for rough sleepers in extreme elements.
  5. We will work as a partnership to develop and provide drop-in and hub facilities in the City, which offer somewhere for rough sleepers to go.
  6. Once identified, as a partnership we will work quickly to get rough sleepers into services, ensuring that the accommodation that we offer does not exacerbate their complexities.
  7. Community safety and the police will where necessary use their enforcement powers where rough sleepers and their behaviours impact the public and issues and concerns will be dealt with swiftly, consistently and appropriately.
  8. The Council will work with MHCLG to ensure effective use of the funding we have received to support those who find themselves on the street.
  9. The partnership will work to coordinate all the efforts across the city to ensure we are not duplicating work and interventions with individuals to echo the One Coventry approach.



Core Pillar 3 - To promote a person's recovery once they are off the street to build positive lives and so they do not return to rough sleeping
What we will do -
  1. As a City partnership we will maximise the potential that Housing First offers to the City.
  2. We will collectively provide a menu of options that best meets their individual needs when transitioning from rough sleeping to a settled home.
  3. The Council will build relationships and develop agreements with both RSL landlords and the private rented sector, to support them if they house rough sleepers – including, in some cases, financial support.
  4. There will be multi-agency case management approach to supporting a person to sustain their tenancy.
  5. All partners will work with the individual so that they understand the consequences of their choice if they return to the streets, including in some cases prosecution.
  6. Ex-rough sleepers will be supported to access employment and training opportunities.
  7. Ex-rough sleepers will be supported to ensure are receiving full benefit entitlement.
  8. Where an ex-rough sleeper has on-going health needs, they will know how they can access health care and any social care support.
  9. As a City we will have an alternative giving scheme that provides an alternative for the public who want to give money to rough sleepers who are begging.


The consultation on the Rough Sleeping Strategy has now concluded. We would like to thank everybody who contributed. Have a look back here on Let's Talk Coventry for updates as the process continues.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
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    How will the employability element be looked at to ensure rough sleepers are offered full advise, career guidance and training to successfully secure and maintain a role?

    Kavita asked over 4 years ago

    We are adding some more specific elements into the strategy to reflect this.  Thank you. 

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    Thank for this consultation How do we ensure our continued engagement with the development of the Homelessness Strategy as a service? The Strategy should include reference to the high quality employment support pathways that exist in Coventry. Could it be made explicit that agencies will identify and offer a sustainable route to economic and social independence for people who are former rough sleepers. While many people who are rough sleepers may not be ready to enter immediate employment it will be important that they are give the best quality support when they are able to benefit from it. This implies a need for a direct link between services offered by the Job Shop and by the range of Programmes funded to support into employment, education and training Parag 1.4 Agree that ‘loss of job’ is a negative factor related to someone becoming a rough sleeper. Therefore suggest someone in our service attends meetings of the partnership or act as a consultee to the partnership on issues related to employability. Parag 2.5/3/3 ‘Promote recovery’ as part of national government 3 core pillars. This should include a guaranteed referral to the Job Shop for ongoing employment support once a partnership agency engaging with an individual assesses that the individual is ready to receive such support. This may be before the individual is deemed to be ‘job ready’ but should be at a point where it is likely that an individual will attend appointments and engage positively with the support they are offered by us or by our delivery partners. Parag 4.4 Establish regular meetings between the Assertive Outreach Service and an agreed point of contact at the Job Shop. This to ensure up to date information about Job Shop services and local employment, education and training opportunities can be shared. Under ‘To promote a person’s recovery once they are off the street to build positive lives and so they do not return to rough sleeping’ On Point 6 add ‘This will include a managed referral into the services offered by the Job Shop and by the range of Programmes funded to support into employment, education and training’.

    David Kersey asked over 4 years ago

    Thank you, David.  We'll add those changes and welcome the opportunity to work closely with the Job Shop and your teams.  Let's talk further about the details. 

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    When we see a person sleeping rough or sitting in a shop doorway or car park, is it safe to assume that the Rough Sleeping Team are already aware of them or should we be alerting the team to them? Also when people are begging for money for a hostel room or hot meal, what is the best advice to give them? Do you think they would already know where to get help and are just after money for other reasons or do you think there might be some people who really don't know how to access the help available? Is there a simple guide to who the person sleeping rough should contact if they insist that they have been recently banned from Harnell Lane?

    Kathryn asked over 4 years ago

    We usually are aware of who rough sleepers are particularly in town.  People can report where a rough sleeper is on the StreetLink website, which go directly to the Rough Sleeping outreach team. These are useful when people are out of the city centre in more hidden locations.

    We do give out a small flyer (to rough sleepers and the public) with all the nearby places that offer free food for the homeless and there is something every day.  You can tell them that the Council’s Rough Sleeping team can give them a list if they don’t have it or they can pop in to Steps For Change (8 City Arcade in town) for the details too.  Harnall Lane will have cooling off periods for people for 1 or 2 days normally and for more serious offences they might suggest a longer cooling off period. I always suggest people check with staff at Steps For Change as usually people can get a bed again.


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    * The commissioned services will provide support and are accessible to those with complex needs and those who are at risk of rough sleeping. Who are your partners supporting those with complex needs and do you have a recognised pathway . Are there any contacts with Sexual Violence strategies or agencies ?

    Angela Atkinson asked over 4 years ago

    We are currently re-commissioning our housing related  support services including specialist provision for  those  with complex needs . Referral routs and pathways into the  new services will be developed as part of the  mobilisation of the  new contracts and  will be in place by April 2020.

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    Sounds great to me. So is this strategy for everyone, or still excludes us NRPF migrants and refused asylum?

    Messenger asked over 4 years ago

    We have received some funding to work specifically with those who have NRPF and there is currently a funded outreach worker based with the Refugee and Migrant centre supporting our rough sleepers with NRPF  - The action plan we are developing to support the strategy  will  hopefully help us address some of  challenges  this group face  with a focus  on supporting them  to gain settled status so they can access to mainstream provision . 

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    Hello, A common mantra is you must not give people who are sleeping rough money because it may encourage bad habits ( ie alcohol or substance abuse). Have the council. view on this.. On the other hand where you would like to offer money to a charity that helps rough sleepers you want to be confident that the money actually reaches them and is not swallowed up in admin costs. Again are then cost efficient charities that help these People.

    Atlantic asked over 4 years ago

    We are currently exploring an alternative giving scheme which would allow the public to make donations  to a single point which then charities and organisations working with rough sleepers  would be able to apply  for funds for individuals  . 

    There a number of alternative giving schemes and we are keen to ensure that the chosen scheme is one where every penny goes directly to a Coventry rough sleeper . 

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    How will you engage the following in the consultation: - people currently sleeping rough - people who don't use IT

    Sandra asked over 4 years ago

    We will be engaging with rough sleepers in a number of ways- including a round table discussion at Steps for change in the city arcade, one on one interviews where we will ask rough sleepers to share their story and through asking partners who work with rough sleepers to gather feedback . 

    For members of the public with no access to IT we will ensure they  are aware of the strategy and are able to give feedback by sharing the content  through posters and leaflets in key points in the city . 

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    Why are people allowed to beg and make " camps " in shop door ways during the day and return " home " at night .

    Clive Scotchill asked over 4 years ago

    The issue of rough sleeping  and begging is a very sensitive matter and we need to balance the vulnerabilities of those living in that manner with the effect that they are having on others.

    Enforcement options, i.e. forcing people to move on is not something as a Council we look to do immediately unless we can clearly show the person’s behaviours are unacceptable, we do it from time to time but we use the option sparingly.  That said if the public or businesses are being adversely affected in a significant manner we will do so promptly and proportionately.

    We have been successful in securing central govt funding for two posts specifically to deal with rough sleepers and to offer support and to expedite them on their journey into support and accommodation.  These posts have been in place for only a few months but already we are far more agile in terms of being able to engage with rough sleepers and to encourage them into services.  Should we be satisfied that we have done all we can from a support point of view then we will look at how appropriate it is to look at enforcement options.


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    why do you do a good job then use abbreviations like MHCLG for - Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, RSL etc? Are you only talking to people who understand council speak?

    Paul Maddocks asked over 4 years ago

    Please see previous response

    Thank You 

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    why do you do a good job then use abbreviations like MHCLG for - Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, RSL etc? Are you only talking to people who understand council speak?

    Paul Maddocks asked over 4 years ago

    Thank you for your comments. 

    We understand that  abbreviations can be of putting and assume people know what we are talking about . We will ensure in the final document that we explain fully what each abbreviation is . 

Page last updated: 27 Jan 2020, 01:22 PM