With Christmas nearly here, Worcester City Council is asking residents to let them know if they spot anyone sleeping rough on the city's streets.
Anyone who does spot a rough sleeper is urged to tell the Streetlink service via the Streetlink website or by calling 0300 500 0914. Streetlink will pass the details through to the Council and its partners, who will then find the rough sleeper to check if they are already getting help. If they are not, support, including accommodation, will be offered.
Arrangements are also in place to open an emergency night shelter in Worcester for anyone sleeping on the streets over Christmas and in adverse weather during the winter months.
The City Council works closely with charities and health organisations to help rough sleepers and those at risk of homelessness. When temperatures reach freezing, as they have during the recent cold snap, a Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is activated to ensure everybody in the city has the offer of warm and safe emergency accommodation.
Councillor Owen Cleary, Vice Chair of the City Council's Communities Committee, said: "The City Council and its partners work hard to support and accommodate rough sleepers and people at risk of homelessness, but despite all the services available you may sometimes still see people on the street. If you see rough sleepers in Worcester, please contact Streetlink at www.streetlink.org.uk or 0300 500 0914 so that we can arrange support for them."
Worcester residents can support homeless people by making donations to the registered charity partners that work with the City Council to help and support rough sleepers:
Learn more about how the City Council is working to help rough sleepers and how the public can help.
