News / homelessness
Bristol’s homelessness and rough sleeping strategy
The number of people sleeping rough on Bristol’s streets rose to 951 in 2018, according to council figures.
This represents an increase of 23 per cent from the previous year, but still fails to portray the full scale of the homelessness crisis in a city, where escalating living costs, insecure work and lack of affordable homes are taking their toll.
Bristol City Council has pledged to focus “maximum efforts and resources to halve rough sleeping by 2022 and eradicate it by 2027″.
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It’s an ambitious target against a backdrop that has seen the number of people forced to sleep rough rise year on year due to a complex mix of the challenges faced in the city.
A new draft strategy for the next five years aims to better reflect current issues, set out priorities for responding to homelessness and rough sleeping and become a city where nobody needs to sleep on the streets. The public is now being asked to give feedback to shape the final plan.
Paul Smith, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “Rough sleeping is not the only form of homelessness and we are trying to do more to prevent all forms of homelessness through early intervention with those at risk.
“One of the main challenges we face in meeting the needs of homeless households is the shortage of affordable housing in Bristol and, specifically, private rented accommodation affordable to people on housing benefit.
Currently, around 19 per cent of the city’s housing stock is social housing and the council is the largest landlord.
There are more than 12,000 households on the council waiting list for social housing, but only around 1,800 homes are let each year, which means long waiting times for many.
Smith addds: “Turning Bristol into a city where no-one has to sleep rough will be a tough challenge, but one that we need to address to create the type of city we can all be proud of.”
The council has worked with partners, including the NHS, voluntary organisations, homeless charities and people with lived experience of homelessness and rough sleeping, to put the strategy together.
It is based on key themes of tackling rough sleeping, prevention and early intervention, improving health, wellbeing, skills and aspirations, delivering equality, diversity and inclusion in all services and partnership working.
The aim is to build on services already in place, such as the newly opened Somewhere Safe to Stay in Stokes Croft.
This is a pilot run in partnership with St Mungo’s and the council that provides an emergency safe space for people at imminent risk of rough sleeping, which is staffed 24 hours, seven days a week.
The council’s strategy includes reducing the number of people in temporary accommodation in favour of more sustainable options, improving access to tailored support and increasing the supply of accessible, secure housing options.
Appealing for people to give their input into the plan, mayor Marvin Rees said: “No one should have to sleep on the streets and we are working together in Bristol on a One City approach to ending homelessness through both short term solutions and long term change.
“Homelessness is a complex issue, and we know that there is not one thing alone that will fix it. However, by working together across a series of initiatives, our ultimate aim is to end rough sleeping in Bristol and provide everyone with a safe place to call home.”
A consultation on the draft strategy will run until Monday, May 27. Take part by visiting: www.bristol.gov.uk/homeless-strategy-consultation-2019.
Paper copies will be available from libraries and the Citizen Service Point at Temple Street. Alternative formats are available on request.
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