Rough Sleeping?

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

The Rough Sleeper Team

Email us on Roughsleeperteam@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)

Tell us about someone sleeping rough

To tell us of someone sleeping rough, please email Roughsleeperteam@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) or visit StreetLink (opens new window) Please give as much information as possible such as where and when, a short description of the person and any dogs. A member of our outreach team will look for them to offer support.

Housing Solutions

The Housing Solutions service is for people in housing need, including rough sleepers and sofa surfers.

Our telephone service is open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (closed Wednesdays from 9am to 2pm) 0300 456 0106.

You can also email Housing Solutions at homeless@wiltshire.gov.uk  (opens new window). Please tell us about your situation and leave a phone number to contact you on.

The Dogs Trust Hope Project offers some free treatment including chips, neutering and vaccinations. Call them on 020 7833 7611, visit Dogs Trust (opens new window) or email hopeproject@dogstrust.org.uk (opens new window).

The Alabaré Place and Unity House drop-in centres offer free dog food.

Citizens Advice continue to help people over the phone on 0800 144 884 and will provide face-to-face support when it's most needed by a pre-booked appointment

Drop-in centres offer support such as food, clothing, showers and mail collection.

Food bank vouchers can be supplied by our Outreach Workers or at many of the Drop-in Centres.

Local Welfare Provision (LWP) is for crisis situations where you have no food and no means of getting any, or no electric or gas (key meter only).

Applications can only be accepted in person and by telephone from 9am to 12 noon Monday to Friday 0300 456 0110.

Rough sleepers can access emergency accommodation and support during periods of adverse weather through the Government-backed Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP). 

Wiltshire Council works in conjunction with the UKHSA and Met Office when considering whether the trigger for Cold Weather SWEP has been met.

When considering whether the threshold for Cold Weather SWEP has been met, the Council will consider factors such as temperatures, wind chill, snow coverage and duration of extreme weather.

Historically, the minimum threshold for Cold Weather SWEP was a forecast of zero degrees or below for three consecutive nights. However, a common-sense approach will be applied, and all factors will be taken into consideration.

During times of adverse weather, we will provide updates on our Twitter (opens new window) and Facebook page (opens new window) as to when the SWEP is activated.

You can alert us to rough sleepers in need of support by visiting StreetLink (opens new window) or by calling Street Link on 0300 500 0914.

The Rough Sleeper Team and Housing Solutions are responsible for making offers of SWEP accomodation. They will make you aware of the location and how best to get there. Outside of office hours, please contact the Emergency Duty Service Team on 0300 456 0100.

During the extreme heat, water bottles and sun cream are provided by the Outreach Team, or at;

• Alabaré Place, 58 Barnard Street, Salisbury, SP1 2BJ
• Unity House, 4 Woodlane, Chippenham, SN15 3DJ

To access most accommodation pathways in Wiltshire, such as the council's Housing Register 'Homes4Wiltshire', our Wiltshire Let Deposit Scheme or supported accommodation, you will need a 'local connection'. By local connection we mean that you must have lived in Wiltshire for at least six months out of the last 12 months, or three years out of the last five years. Residence may include, for example, a tenancy or other settled accommodation which is supported by evidence. Local connection can also be gained through a close and meaningful family relation who has lived in Wiltshire for over five years, or if you have meaningful employment in the county.

The following will not be considered as having established a local connection to Wiltshire:

• time spent sleeping rough, living in tents, squats, cars and other arrangements not intended for residential occupation
• time spent in approved premises (formerly known as bail hostels)
• time spent in Wiltshire in detox, treatment, or rehabilitation where placed by an agency from outside of Wiltshire. The placing local authority will have responsibility for move-on as part of the recovery process.

If you do not have a local connection to Wiltshire we can offer to reconnect you to an authority where you do have one as your access to Wiltshire services will be limited and this will offer you the best opportunity to secure accommodation. We would always look to refer any relief duty under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 to the authority where you have a local connection so it is better that you work to achieve this with us as early as possible. This can include helping you financially to secure travel back to that area.

Rough sleeper provision

We have a number of emergency provisions across the County for people sleeping rough in Wiltshire:

• Unity House, 4 Woodlane, Chippenham, SN15 3DJ
• The Haven, 38 - 40 Langford Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8NU
• Alabaré, Alabaré Place, 58 Barnard Street, Salisbury, SP1 2BJ

All placements for bed spaces are handled by the Rough Sleeper Team. You cannot self-refer to these provisions by contacting the projects directly.

Supported accommodation

Supported accommodation is a stepping stone into independent accommodation. You will receive support to prepare you to manage your own tenancy by equipping you with the necessary skills. We have a number of provisions across Wiltshire.

Referrals into supported accommodation can only be made by your allocated Outreach Worker and/or caseworker.

Private rented accommodation

If you are eligible for assistance and rough sleeping, we may be able to financially assist you with the deposit and rent in advance for a private rented property.

Your search should be based the 'local housing allowance / the maximum benefit amount you will receive with help towards your rent.

Your Outreach Worker can support you with finding properties. Please do not sign agreements or put down any holding fees before speaking to us.

Homes4Wiltshire

Homes4Wiltshire is a choice based lettings scheme for people with a housing need in Wiltshire. This scheme advertises all social housing in Wiltshire and customers must 'bid' on properties to express an interest.

The demand on social housing in Wiltshire is significant therefore you must consider all options.

To apply, please speak to your Outreach Worker or caseworker.

Connect Wiltshire Substance Use Service is a free drug and alcohol service led by Turning Point in partnership with Developing Health & Independence (DHI), Julian House and The Nelson Trust. Connect offer specialist services for anyone in Wiltshire, of any age, who would like information, support or treatment for their use of alcohol and/or drugs. Connect also offer support for those who are affected by others alcohol and/ or drug use. 

To find out more about the services available and how you, or someone you know, can be helped, contact Connect via: 

Telephone: 0300 555 0157 

Email: connectreferrals@turning-point.co.uk (opens new window)

Website: https://www.turning-point.co.uk/services/connect-wiltshire (opens new window)

Trowbridge Hub, Rothermere House, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, BA14 8JQ
Salisbury Hub, Cheviot House, 69 - 73 Castle Street, Salisbury, SP1 3SP

All Wiltshire libraries are free warm spaces to sit, stay and take part in activities. There are libraries across the county and all offer free access to computers, scanners and Wi-Fi. Printing is available for a small charge. Amesbury, Bradford on Avon, Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Devizes, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Melksham, Royal Wootton Bassett, Salisbury, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury offer free digital support appointments to help you to use the library computers or your own devices. To use the computers, you'll need to join the library. It's free to join, and those rough sleeping just need to show proof of name. This membership will also allow you to borrow 2 books.

Chippenham, Devizes, Salisbury, Trowbridge and Warminster libraries are part of the Good Things Foundation's National Databank and can provide free SIMs and mobile data to 18+ year olds. Contact (opens new window) one of these libraries to find out more and to book an appointment or complete the National Databank.

Wi-Fi is available in most libraries.

Adult Social Care

Phone 0300 456 0111 or email adviceandcontact@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)

Domestic violence

Fearfree: phone 01225 775 276

Women's Aid: phone 0808 2000 247

Nelson Trust: phone 01453 885 633

Job Centre Plus

Phone: 0800 169 0190

Mental health

Samaritans,-Helpline for emotional support: phone 116 123

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership: phone 01225 325 680

Missing people

Anyone who is missing or away from home: phone 116 000

Probation

Phone 01249 461 577

Shelter emergency helpline - housing advice

Phone 0808 800 4444

Shelter England (opens new window)

Veterans

Combat Stress: phone 0800 138 1619

Veterans Gateway: phone 0808 802 1212

Help for Heroes: phone 01980 844 200

SSAFA: phone 0800 731 4880

Royal British Legion: phone 0808 802 8080

Wiltshire Council Health improvement coaches

Wiltshire Health Improvement Hub can provide advice and support on eating healthy, stop or reduce smoking, sensible drinking, increasing physical activity, building confidence and motivation to change and boosting self-esteem. 0300 003 4566.