PL5242 Resource Centre for Rough Sleepers

The Council requires the services of an organisation or group of organisations to provide the Resource Centre Service which will provide a friendly and accessible engagement, advice and support service to rough sleepers and those vulnerably housed in Tower Hamlets and the City of London Corporation to reduce and prevent rough sleeping in the two boroughs. The main objectives of the Service are to:

• Work collaboratively with other like-minded organisations who deliver services for very vulnerable people - linking people into specialist/mainstream service provision where possible.
• Enable rough sleepers and those vulnerably housed to be more active locally by facilitating positive relationships between them and people who are not vulnerable.
• Welcome people from any background, faith or nationality to our services - reflecting the diversity of the local population. This will be managed through an equalities impact assessment and proactive engagement with local relevant cultural, faith and equalities groups.
• Provide innovative and effective approaches to assisting rough sleepers with complex needs to move into accommodation and remain housed.
• Provide engagement activities and a focused advice and support service to verified rough sleepers on the Tower Hamlets and City of London outreach teams' lists.
• Provide thorough housing and support needs assessments, SMART action plans to resolve the housing need of individuals who claim to be rough sleeping or are vulnerably housed in Tower Hamlets or the City of London.
• Provide signposting or formal referrals for clients with a confirmed local connection outside of Tower Hamlets or the City of London to relevant housing and support services in their home area.
• Provide supported reconnections for discharge patients from the Royal London Hospital. The Service will also aim to improve patients' their health and wellbeing leading to reduction in instances of mental-ill health, poor physical health and substance misuse, and improve patients' financial situation through advice and debt counselling.
• Provide access for local rough sleepers and hostel residents into more structured activities and a range of support services provided by or in conjunction with the Service but not funded under this Grant. This will include substance misuse services, health and well-being sessions, physical and mental health assessments, engagement with ETE activities.

The anticipated contract start date is 1st April 2018.

The estimated value of the contract is £195,000 per annum.

The contract period is 3 years.