Wiltshire Council have provided practical help and information for people rough sleeping or sofa surfing.

Rough sleeping is the most visible form of homelessness and the most damaging. It can cause significant harm to an individual's physical and mental health as well as reduce life expectancy.

The Council believe that nobody should be sleeping on the streets in Wiltshire and should have access to appropriate support and suitable placements to ensure there is a route off the streets for everyone.

Their aim for rough sleeping is to:

• Work together to reduce the number of people who are rough sleeping and ensure there is a route off the street for everyone.

The Rough Sleeper Team will attempt to engage with you if you are rough sleeping, provide assistance where appropriate and seek to connect you to services. The aim of our Outreach Team is to support rough sleepers into accommodation. They will remain persistent and positive in continuing to engage with you thought out the process, until you are ready to accept an offer.

The Outreach can assist with the following:

• housing advice and support with housing applications
• referrals into supported accommodation
• help with obtaining ID
• engaging with the Housing Team and coming with you to meetings
• supporting you to claim benefits
• registering with a GP
• engaging with the Substance Misuse Service
• advising you on drop in services
• helping you set up a bank account.

Report someone sleeping rough

Email Roughsleeperteam@wiltshire.gov.uk or visit StreetLink 

Please give as much information as possible such as where and when, a short description of the person and any dogs. A member of the Council's outreach team will then look for them to offer support.