Rough Sleeper Initiative Supported Accommodation and Coproduction

Stafford Borough Council are procuring a contract for the provision of a rough sleeper initiative supported accommodation and coproduction service. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have announced that a Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Grant will replace previous rough sleeper grant funding.

Funding levels for this grant are yet to be confirmed and remain subject to ministerial approval. Grant conditions, along with illustrative allocations, will be announced later this year.

Depending on the above grant allocation, Stafford Borough Council intend to deliver two inter-related projects to end rough sleeping. The first project is for six units of high-level supported accommodation that will form part of the local rough sleeper pathway.

This pathway will contribute to ending rough sleeping in Stafford and increase the housing options available to individuals with multiple and complex needs who are rough sleeping, or at risk of rough sleeping. The overall aim of the project is to get individuals with a history of rough sleeping or repeat homelessness into sustainable accommodation, with tailored support that addresses underlying needs.

The approach will provide strength-based solutions and ongoing support so that no one has to spend a night on our streets and instances of rough sleeping and repeat homelessness will be reduced. The second project is a coproduction model that will engage the voices of those with lived experience, involving the hardest to reach rough sleepers so their views and experiences become an integral element in developing accommodation and support services.

To end rough sleeping, we need to shift the balance of power, listen to the voices of those with lived experience and adapt our services and strategies accordingly. This will not take place overnight but requires long-term commitment to gain trust, expertise and provide a platform for genuine change.