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.

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