What initiatives are being undertaken to support rough sleepers in Camden? A local council, recognized for having one of the highest incidences of rough sleeping, is launching a new program involving „personal passports“ aimed at assisting individuals in accessing homelessness services.
These passports will enable individuals with experience of sleeping rough to document personal information that can be shared with various services, including the NHS and housing providers. The intent is to alleviate the burden of having to repeatedly disclose sensitive details, a process that Camden Council identifies as potentially „re-traumatizing, exhausting, and confusing.“
Statistics on Rough Sleeping
Although the overall number of rough sleepers in London experienced its first year-on-year decline in three years, Camden has seen a significant rise of 26 percent in rough sleeping this year. Last week, the council released its five-year strategy to combat homelessness, outlining plans for new temporary accommodation and hundreds of additional social and affordable housing units.
The council has also taken steps to enhance support services, such as providing Wi-Fi access in hostel rooms and revising policies to allow rough sleepers to bring their pets into accommodations. This passport initiative has been developed in consultation with individuals who have firsthand experience of homelessness, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Background and Ongoing Efforts
This scheme was initially tested three years ago with residents who were living independently after experiencing homelessness and is now set to be expanded. Camden borough consistently ranks second among all London boroughs for homelessness rates, following Westminster.
Councillor Anna Wright, the cabinet minister for health, indicated that the council’s strategy acknowledges „the significant impacts of homelessness on health and wellbeing.“
Bildquelle: Foto von Alicja Ziajowska auf Unsplash
