Sheffield Rough Sleeping Numbers Hit Record High

[SheffieldForum]

A charity dedicated to helping rough sleepers in Sheffield has recorded the highest number of people sleeping on the streets since it began working in the city. In August, the Framework Street Outreach Team found 71 people sleeping rough in and around Sheffield city centre, a 78% increase compared to the previous year.

 

Daily Outreach and Support

 

The Framework Street Outreach Team monitors the welfare of rough sleepers every day, including Christmas Day, and works to help them access housing, benefits, and health services. Despite the daily efforts of the team, Steph Haines, from Framework, noted the significant challenges:

 

“We have a record high this year. Day to day the numbers are astonishing. There’s just not accommodation or the right accommodation for complex people here.”

 

The organisation, which has operated in Sheffield since 2017, also supports rough sleepers in Nottinghamshire. Their outreach workers take pre-dawn walks each day to check on those in need and offer assistance where possible.

 

Urgent Funding Needs

 

Although Framework has a contract with Sheffield City Council to continue its work for the next five years, it is facing a budget shortfall of £189,122.
 

To bridge the gap, the charity has launched a campaign to raise £200,000, which will help cover the cost of more resources, staff, and specialist workers needed to meet the growing demand.

 

Claire Eden, head of fundraising and communications for Framework, emphasised the urgent need for additional support:

 

“We need more resources, staff, and specialist workers to address and meet the needs of the people we find sleeping rough.”

 

The Realities of Supporting Rough Sleepers

 

Steven Wrigley, a senior support worker with the outreach team, reflected on the complexity of the situation:

 

“You can’t save everyone. You can fix elements, but not the whole thing. The person has to want to change.”

 

Framework’s work extends beyond providing immediate assistance. The organisation also engages with rough sleepers to help them access mental and physical health support and secure benefits. Additionally, the team conducts regular headcounts of rough sleepers as part of government reporting efforts.

 

Hidden Homelessness and the Dangers of Rough Sleeping

 

Ms Haines highlighted the life-threatening dangers faced by those forced to sleep in unsafe locations:

 

“It’s vital that we can continue to be there to avoid people putting themselves in the life-threatening position of sleeping not only on the streets but hidden away in car parks, cemeteries, quarries, building sites, or wherever they can find shelter.”

[MJ01]

No real homeless

All drive round in Mercs

All live in dormer bungalows in Dore

7 overseas holiday a year

Something else

Something else

[Tony]

It's complicated isn't' it?  Time was when society locked people up in asylums which isn't a very progressive approach now but neither is allowing people to destroy themselves on the streets. I was in town last week and it was no exaggeration to say that the streets were filled with people who shouldn't be on the streets. Nobody wins from that. 

 

Perhaps it's time for a zero tolerance approach to habitual rough sleeping backed up by proper housing and health interventions and a minibus sweeping the streets. The politician who could put that together in Sheffield would win a lot of votes. 

[SheffieldForum]

25 minutes ago, Tony said:

It's complicated isn't' it?  Time was when society locked people up in asylums which isn't a very progressive approach now but neither is allowing people to destroy themselves on the streets. I was in town last week and it was no exaggeration to say that the streets were filled with people who shouldn't be on the streets. Nobody wins from that. 

 

Perhaps it's time for a zero tolerance approach to habitual rough sleeping backed up by proper housing and health interventions and a minibus sweeping the streets. The politician who could put that together in Sheffield would win a lot of votes. 

 

How would you enforce that?!

 

I'd argue that the intervention needs to take place to prevent homelessness in the first place. Better support for people struggling and better things like mental health care, addiction support, etc, are the best way of dealing with homelessness before it happens.

 

Even things like better financial education would help - the vast majority of people in the UK are literally a month or two away from homelessness if their circumstances suddenly change.

[Tony]

5 minutes ago, SheffieldForum said:

How would you enforce that?!

 

 

Bylaws, Community Protection Order and this:

 

 

 

 

 

  

5 minutes ago, SheffieldForum said:

I'd argue that the intervention needs to take place to prevent homelessness in the first place. Better support for people struggling and better things like mental health care, addiction support, etc, are the best way of dealing with homelessness before it happens.

 

Even things like better financial education would help - the vast majority of people in the UK are literally a month or two away from homelessness if their circumstances suddenly change.

 

And yes, all the other stuff too.  

[geared]

38 minutes ago, Tony said:

Perhaps it's time for a zero tolerance approach to habitual rough sleeping backed up by proper housing and health interventions and a minibus sweeping the streets. The politician who could put that together in Sheffield would win a lot of votes. 

 

It's not just housing though, some have complex needs and simply sticking them in a flat somewhere isn't going to work.

 

Unfortunately the money isn't there, and it's one of the first things to get cut.

[XboxMan2024]

41 minutes ago, geared said:

 

It's not just housing though, some have complex needs and simply sticking them in a flat somewhere isn't going to work.

 

Unfortunately the money isn't there, and it's one of the first things to get cut.

As someone who's in the care sector (as a customer), I'm painfully aware that they don't have the resources, namely cash or staff, to provide round the clock care/support in a LOT of cases.

 

[GoldenAleLad]

Hasn't Barnsley gotten rid of the problem ?

 

Couldn't SCC copy their approach ?

 

 

 

[HeHasRisen]

53 minutes ago, GoldenAleLad said:

Hasn't Barnsley gotten rid of the problem ?

 

Couldn't SCC copy their approach ?

 

 

 

You mean they have moved the problem down the road to Sheffield? 

Out of sight out of mind eh? 

[SheffieldForum]

55 minutes ago, GoldenAleLad said:

Hasn't Barnsley gotten rid of the problem ?

 

Couldn't SCC copy their approach ?

 

 

 

By introducing a Public Spaces Protection Order?

 

Yeah, Sheffield is in the process of doing that. 👍