The government has released the annual rough sleeping figures for the country and Solihull’s figure is six people, down by two on the previous year.
The national annual rough sleeping figures are produced as a snapshot by every local authority in the country on a single night in autumn in order to monitor rough sleeping patterns year on year and region by region.
Alongside this snapshot, Solihull Council tracks patterns and numbers of people sleeping rough to inform and bolster its rough sleeper outreach work and other support throughout the year.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Mark Parker, said: “The annual figure for people sleeping rough in Solihull is usually low when compared with national figures. This year’s decrease in numbers is testament to the work undertaken by the council’s Rough Sleeper Outreach team in partnership with other statutory and voluntary sector agencies. We also relaunched the St Basils Solihull Youth Hub drop-in centre at Chelmsley Wood Library, making it more accessible for young people facing or at risk of homelessness to access early advice and assistance.
“In addition, the Council has supported 21 people who were rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping into accommodation and 11 grants have been awarded to individuals and organisations through our campaign Change into Action Solihull (CiA). CiA plays an important role in raising money and awareness of how best to help people who are sleeping rough. Since its launch in Solihull it has awarded £50,000 in grants to local groups to help provide additional items or training that will help people into or to remain in safe accommodation.
“Please work with us to reduce rough sleeping and homelessness by continuing to report and refer anyone that you think is sleeping rough to Streetlink and by donating to CiA if you are able.”
Useful websites and phone numbers –
- To report someone sleeping, contact Streetlink at https://thestreetlink.org.uk/
(If you use the what3words app that is especially helpful.) They will pass the details to our outreach team.
- To make a donation to Change into Action Solihull – which funds additional help with people who are homeless - visit www.changeintoaction.org.uk/solihull
- To contact Solihull Community Housing for emergency provision, call 0121 717 1515 (24/7)
- To find local help or make a donation anywhere in the West Midlands visit - Street Support West Midlands - Street Support Network
- If you think someone is in immediate danger, please call 999.
- To view the latest government figures for rough sleeping see – https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rough-sleeping-snapshot-in-england-autumn-2023