Exeter Homelessness Charity Warns of Impending Rough Sleeping Crisis
AS the first sub-zero nights hit Exeter, local homelessness charity St Petrock’s have issued a clear warning that homelessness and rough sleeping in the city is likely to reach the highest levels ever this winter.
Two main factors have led to this impending crisis: the decision by Devon County Council to end its support for homeless prevention and support services, and excessive delays in Westminster announcing details of the Labour government’s strategy for tackling homelessness and rough sleeping, together with the associated funding that will be made available to local councils for the new financial year.
Peter Stephenson, Chief Executive of St Petrock’s, explained, “This winter, people at risk of homelessness in Devon are facing a perfect storm.
"The most immediate and obvious challenge is Devon County Council’s decision to completely axe all funding for homelessness prevention services from April, despite the fact that most rough sleepers have adult social care needs.
"This means that the services which relied on this funding are either closing completely or are having to tighten their criteria for who they will house due to reduced staffing levels.
"We are already seeing the impact of this, with record numbers of rough sleepers turning to us for help.
“Less obvious, but equally important, the previous government’s Rough Sleeping Initiative, which funds much of the housing and support for people at risk of homelessness in the city, comes to an end in March, with no clarity from government as to what will replace this.
"These critical services are therefore in the awful position of not knowing what funding will be available from April, or if they will have a contract at all.
"Inevitably this means they will need to look at making staff redundant in the New Year, and even if they hold their nerve, staff will be leaving as they need to know they can pay their rent and bills come April.”
“Combined with the ending of DCC homelessness prevention funding, we are facing a likely major increase in homelessness and rough sleeping in the winter months that is unlikely to get better any time soon.
“We are extremely worried that lives will be lost unnecessarily. It is simply not acceptable that some of the most vulnerable people in our community are having their lives put at serious risk simply because we have a County Council that has chosen to cut the services they depend on, and a national government that is too slow to make critical decisions that affect thousands of lives across the country.”
St Petrock’s provides Exeter’s rough sleepers with a safe refuge every morning, with hot food and drinks, showers, clothing and other essentials to help them survive and feel valued.
In addition, the team provide one-to-one support to help the charity’s clients get into accommodation and to receive the support they need to get their lives back on track again after the trauma of being homeless.
Because the charity is largely supported by public donations rather than statutory funding, its services are unaffected by the cuts.
However, it is feeling the impact of rising rough sleeping. “The team are often rushed off their feet and can feel overwhelmed by the numbers of people asking for help”, said Rowan Livingstone, Head of Client Services.
“We have had to take on an additional person for our homelessness team to keep up with demand, yet the numbers still go up. It can be hard to stay positive when, despite everything we do, forces beyond our control keep driving people to the streets.
"We just have to focus on the person in front of us and remember that, while we have little control over the local and national political decisions that are devastating lives, we can make a difference to this person today.”
St Petrock’s work with rough sleepers is largely funding by donations which can be made on their website www.stpetrocks.org.uk
