Sleeping rough or street homeless

What to do if you think someone is experiencing street homelessness and information on local charities.

Refer someone to StreetLink

If you see someone who you think is experiencing street homelessness, please inform our local Outreach Service via StreetLink.

How StreetLink helps

StreetLink can be used by anyone in England and Wales to send an alert about someone over 18 who is sleeping rough or preparing to sleep rough.

Please don't make an alert if the person is begging or engaging in anti-social behaviour, unless you believe they are rough sleeping in that location.

When you submit an alert:

• The details go to local outreach teams in the area
• These teams (mostly working at night) try to locate the person, assess their needs, and offer support
• The goal is to help people access the right services and move away from homelessness

StreetLink itself doesn't provide accommodation or go out to search for individuals. Instead it connects members of the public with local outreach teams who can help.

SPEAR

SPEAR’s outreach teams work to connect rough sleepers with housing and support services. SPEAR provides:

• Rough sleeper outreach: Teams actively seek out people sleeping rough, building trust and offering immediate assistance
• Accommodation: Tailored accommodation to help people rough sleeping off the streets
• Support services: A range of support services, including help with finding employment, accessing healthcare, and addressing mental health and addiction issues

Visit the SPEAR website.

Other services

These services provide a mix of emergency housing, advice, meals, wash facilities and laundry services if you have no home.

• Homeless Link provides a list of services in your area.
• London Youth Gateway 0330 0536091 (work in partnership with a range of London-wide agencies and have drop in centres)
• Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness 020 8255 7400 (accommodation for single homeless people)
• Nightstop London 020 7939 1226 (provides place to stay for the night)
• Runaway Helpline 116 000 (working with Nightstop)
• Vineyard 0208 439 9735 (Richmond area)
• Albert Kennedy Trust 020 7831 6562 (LGBT young people)
• New Horizon Youth Centre 020 7388 5560 (day centre for aged 16-21)
• Shelter 0808 800 4444
• Citizen's Advice
• Samaritans on 116 123
• Stonham 020 8332 7667 (Sheen Park: ex-offenders who need housing)
• Southall Black Sisters 020 8571 0800 (help for abused women and forced marriage)
• Stonewall Housing 020 7359 5767  housing help for LGBT+ people