Outreach work

People sleeping rough may not always seek support, for a variety of reasons. They may not know where to go or have difficulty trusting others, they may be facing issues such as mental health or addiction problems that hinder them. Local outreach teams seek out those sleeping rough and try to get them the support they need. Their work is often life-saving, particularly in times of extreme weather such as freezing temperatures, when they help get people into emergency accommodation.

Outreach teams from SPEAR in Twickenham go out several times a week to find those sleeping rough across Richmond, Kingston, Merton and Wandsworth. They offer them immediate help such as providing warm clothes, sleeping bags, and oyster cards so they can travel to day centres and appointments. They may also give them a phone so they can keep in touch. The teams then work to secure people safe accommodation, and access to any other services they may need. The outreach team is very often the first point of contact for people, and the start of their journey away from the streets. They also help to provide essential data about rough sleeping in the local area. They play a key role in getting people off the streets and connected into support services, breaking the cycle of homeless for many of London’s rough sleepers.