WP3482 - New Beginnings - Specialist Housing Related Support for rough sleepers and those who are sex workers or at risk of sexual exploitation 2019/2020

Descriptions

1.1 The extent of rough sleeping in the UK is underrepresented by data currently available. Rough sleeping experienced by women is almost certainly being undercounted as women's patterns of rough sleeping may mean they are less likely to be recorded in counts and their experiences often include sexual abuse, violence and stigmatisation. Many rough sleepers find it difficult to find stable accommodation and ultimately return to rough sleeping at the point of crisis. 1.2 Sex worker and those that are at risk of sexual exploitation should have access to excellent, reliable and life-changing information and support. They should be treated fairly, positively and respectfully and there should be genuine alternatives to a life of exploitation regardless of where they find themselves. The council wants these vulnerable service users to understand their situation and the choices available to them so they can take practical and manageable steps that lead to a genuine route out of sexual exploitation and to find stable accommodation. Our focus is to ensure service users are able to sustain a tenancy and not return to rough sleeping. Providing suitable accommodation and the right level of support to these vulnerable service users, will provide a solid foundation for them to start making life changing choices and ultimately not return to rough sleeping. 1.3 We want to help rough sleepers who are sex workers or at risk of sexual exploitation or other vulnerable women, by housing relief and prevention. We are seeking a provider to deliver on a budget of ?76k to finance 2 Specialist Support Workers to support rough sleepers / individuals involved in the sex-industry. The work of these support workers will be pivotal in helping people towards a more stable life and will help them achieve a series of positive outcomes through a Housing First approach to: o Reduce and prevent rough sleeping o Provide a pathway for individuals to leave the street sex industry and be prevented from entering into the street sex industry either for the first time or as a repeat situation o Increase levels of tenancy maintenance in this group o Help individuals achieve and maintain independent living skills o Reduce the impacts of rough sleeping on health and other services o Help individuals access education, training and employment opportunities 1.4 The Council is seeking a forward thinking and dynamic organisation to provide and work in partnership with us to support a total of 11 adults with complex needs, who have been or are currently sleeping rough to sustain their tenancies and remain off the streets. We want to help 10 relief cases where the service user is suitably housed and 1 vulnerable person through prevention tools over a 12 month period. The current provider has engaged with some our most vulnerable adults with complex needs and have successfully helped some of those vulnerable people in rebuilding their lives. We are seeking a s...