A CORNWALL-wide £1.1 million strategy to tackle rough sleeping was unveiled this week.

The multi-agency rough sleeper reduction strategy will try to prevent rough sleeping by helping those most at risk to access housing, help and support quickly.

And the aim is to provide support for what Cornwall Council calls ‘entrenched’ rough sleepers to help them off the streets permanently. 

Bodies teaming up on the new strategy are Cornwall Council, Cornwall Housing Ltd, Coastline Housing, voluntary sector providers, Safer Cornwall, the Drug and Alcohol Action Team, Devon and Cornwall Police, Public Health (including Mental Health Services) and Inclusion Cornwall.

The strategy is backed by £850,000 from Cornwall Council and Cornwall Housing and £292,000 from a successful bid to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for a scheme called ‘Nos Da Kernow’ (No First Night Out).      

Cornwall Council cabinet member for homes Andrew Mitchell said: ‘In Cornwall, as in other parts of the country, we have seen an increase in homelessness and the continuing impacts of welfare reform mean that more people are at risk of becoming homeless. 

‘This new strategy means earlier help to people who are in desperate need of accommodation and support and placing them on a path that will not involve worrying about their safety at night because they are forced to sleep rough.’

A key element of the strategy is to provide stable housing to help get people back on their feet, and then provide support services.

The council and its partners have been working on a number of initiatives since September last year to begin the process of reducing rough sleeping in Cornwall, including Nos Da Kernow. This programme involves a team of experienced outreach, housing options and resettlement officers from Cornwall Housing, Coastline and St Petroc’s Society working together to help those who are facing pressures that could tip them over into rough sleeping. 

People at risk of homelessness or worried about their housing situation can contact the advice team at Cornwall Housing on 0300 1234 161.

Members of the public who have concerns about a rough sleeper in their area should go to the Streetlink website or phone Streetlink on 0300 500 0914.