WIREDGOV

With one 100 days to go until the Olympics, we've produced a short media briefing on work to end rough sleeping in London and preparations for the Olympics.

ENDING ROUGH SLEEPING in the capital

In 2009, the Mayor of London established the London Delivery Board to help end rough sleeping in the capital. Made up of councils, charities, the police and other key players, the board has led to a coordinated approach to services aimed at getting long term rough sleepers off the streets, as well as services to ensure that new rough sleepers get help quickly so they spend as little time out as possible.

NO SECOND NIGHT OUT

As well as services targeted at long-term rough sleepers, one of the key innovations in the capital has been the introduction of No Second Night Out. No Second Night Out has involved putting in place:

•  a helpline so the public can alert services when they see someone sleeping out
•  a coordinated approach to the way outreach teams work so that new rough sleepers can be identified and helped quickly
•  a new assessment centre where the needs of new rough sleepers can be assessed and they can get help with accommodation and other services.

Piloted in the central London, the No Second Night Out will go London wide in June with support from the Homelessness Transition Fund.

RESULTS TO DATE

Although rough sleeping in England has been on the rise in 2011 because of the economic climate, the work of No Second Night Out indicates that more rough sleepers are getting help quickly in central London.

In the first six months of No Second Night Out being introduced, nearly 2,000 calls were made to the rough sleeper helpline and 415 new rough sleepers were helped off the streets and into accommodation.  70% of new rough sleepers did not spend a second night out and the pilot was four times more successful than traditional services at getting new rough sleepers into accommodation.

PREPARING FOR THE OLYMPICS

There has been some concern that, because of increased visitor numbers during the Olympics, rough sleeping in London could rise.

Although research indicates the Olympics are unlikely to contribute to a rise in rough sleeping.  We have been supporting our members and the east London Boroughs to look whether there will be enough beds and staff to cope with any increase. Volunteers are also being trained in East London so that, if council and charity services were stretched, these volunteers could help.

REPORTS OF ROUGH SLEEPERS BEING "MOVED ON"

We have been contacted several times about reports that, in some areas of London, rough sleepers are being encouraged to "move on" in preparation for the Olympics.

We would be highly concerned if this was taking place but, as far we know, the only activities underway are part of the long-term strategy to end rough sleeping in London. In other words services are working to get new and long-term rough sleepers off the streets and into accommodation but this should be happening whether or not the Olympics were taking place.

AN OLYMPIC LEGACY

The London Olympic organisers have for the first time ever given homeless people a platform during the celebrations. As part of the cultural Olympiad, the With One Voice open mic event will see 200 performers, who have experienced homelessness, perform at the Royal Opera House on the 2nd July.

However, more needs to be done to support homeless people to rebuild their lives. Together with our members, we are supporting calls for an Olympic Legacy for homeless people to ensure that, after 2012, homeless people are neither forgotten nor left behind.

This means better access to healthcare and accommodation and greater support with education, skills and training.