How we support people rough sleeping in Reading

Street Support Reading – information portal

Our Street Support website provides lots of information on where to find food, support, advice and accommodation. It is for people who are experiencing homelessness right now, who are at risk of homelessness and for members of the public who want to signpost others or donate their time or money to Reading’s local services.

www.streetsupport.net/reading

Reading’s Homelessness Partnership (HoP)

This is a partnership of charities and statutory organisations working together to end rough sleeping and homelessness in Reading. The Reading HoP is facilitated by the charity Street Support Network and we meet every two months to plan and action projects and strategies for preventing and relieving homelessness in the borough. This includes developing a delivery plan and providing governance for Reading’s Rough Sleeping Strategy 2019 – 2024.

Homelessness Support Services

Compared to other local authority areas, Reading has substantial voluntary sector provision and support for rough sleepers, with significant levels of funding from the local authority, even at a time of severe budget pressures. Collectively we call the services that the Council funds our Homelessness Support Services.

Floating support service – Launchpad Reading

Floating Support aims to prevent homelessness by equipping people with the skills to remain in their property where appropriate or enabling people to source more suitable accommodation

  • Open access drop in on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 10am and 2pm
  • Telephone and email support for general enquiries, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm
  • Tier 1 Floating Support which consists of light touch support for up to 12 weeks
  • Tier 2 Floating Support which consists of an allocated key worker and support for up to 6 months
  • ​A MEAM Coordinator responsible for ensuring the MEAM approach is employed across the borough and that clients experiencing multiple disadvantages have fair access to services

Rough Sleeper Outreach Service (RSOS) – St. Mungo’s

Aims to reduce numbers of people sleeping rough in Reading by supporting them in a person centred and psychologically informed way, encouraging them to make informed choices and to develop life skills.

  • Based at Willow House (the Hub) for easy access
  • Provide daily assertive outreach to verify and engage rough sleepers
  • Identify appropriate housing solutions to move people from the streets into sustainable accommodation
  • Prepare rough sleepers for accessing accommodation and 3 weeks resettlement support provided
  • Co-ordinate access to emergency and assessment bed spaces at the Hub
  • Support for up to 5 people within Housing First accommodation who experience multiple and complex needs

Intensive and Engaging (I&E) Support Services – The Salvation Army

Provides wrap around, multi-disciplinary support directed in a person centred way by skilled staff with an appreciation for the importance of trauma informed care. Support to increase self-confidence and self-esteem, improve health, reduce offending, substance misuse and isolation.

Willow House Hub

Willow House is a homeless ‘Hub’ bringing various statutory and non-statutory professionals, to one location, to increase and simplify the journey for people wanting to access support.

  • Accommodation for single people and couples
  • 34 individual rooms for 6-12 months stay
  • 6-10 fold-away emergency beds
  • 8 assessments beds
  • Staff on site 24/7
  • Full-board catering for residents

Shepton House

Additional bed spaces as an alternative and complementary intensive and engaging environment to the Hub

  • 20 beds within shared ‘cluster’ flats
  • Staff on site during office hours and on-call facility 24/7 from Hub
  • Self-catering facilities

Working Towards Independence (WTI) supported accommodation – Launchpad

Offers clients safe accommodation with a bespoke package of personalised support, enabling them to sustain long term independent accommodation and a fulfilled, positive future.

  • 100 bed spaces across 20 properties, predominantly on licence agreements and with move-on within 6 to 12 months
  • All clients have an allocated and dedicated support worker with support focusing on long term tenancy sustainment
  • Wrap-around support for clients with higher support needs
  • Trauma and gender-informed support, facilitated within a psychologically informed environment
  • Support offered via one-to-one sessions, individualised support plan, group work and activities, peer-to-peer mentoring

To be referred or to refer someone into any of our Homelessness Support Services, please call the Council on 0118 937 2165 (or our number is 01344 786 512 after 5pm) or email housing.advice@reading.gov.uk; or drop into the Council offices Monday – Friday between 9am – 5pm – no appointment is needed.