Rough Sleeping and Homelessness in Exeter

Published: 1 December 2020

No-one should have to sleep rough on Exeter’s streets and the City Council is doing everything possible to end rough sleeping and tackle homelessness in the city.

Sometimes people don’t always see the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in trying to ensure that everyone has a roof over their head. Many people often ask what goes on in the city to help those who don’t have a home. These questions and answers may prove useful:

Q1 – Why are there still people on the streets? I thought you were supposed to accommodate everyone due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

We almost got there! And this is testament to the hard work of our Housing Needs Service, Temporary Accommodation Team and Julian House’s Outreach Service.

At the beginning of April 2020 the government launched the ‘Everyone In’ Directive. The Council managed to re-accommodate all those in shared sleeping spaces and reduce rough sleeping figures to three, which is the lowest level ever recorded. All rough sleepers were given an accommodation option; unfortunately we had three people who continually refused all offers of support. Our Outreach Service continue to work with these individuals to offer a long-term solution.

Unfortunately, as we came out of lockdown, some people lost their emergency accommodation. This was predominately due to their behaviour. That meant we started to see a gradual increase in people rough sleeping on the streets of Exeter again.

Q2 – What are the main reasons people lose their emergency housing?

There are a number of reasons for why people can lose their accommodation. From smoking in their rooms and covering up smoke detectors which is unacceptable due to the risk it places on others accommodated in the same building to aggression towards staff and other residents, substance misuse and damage to property.

Whilst the Council does all it can to minimise evictions, unfortunately it still has to evict people who are unable or unwilling to follow the accommodation rules.

Q3 – If someone is evicted for their behaviour, is that the end of the help they receive?

No, wherever possible the Council and its commissioned services will continue to engage with individuals and review what options are available. It does depend on the reasons why people were evicted in the first instance.

Violence towards staff and other residents is certainly not tolerated. Many people have been given more than one chance over the past six months.

Q4 – How many people have you accommodated during the pandemic?

Our Housing Needs service has never stopped and has operated throughout the pandemic. Single Homelessness is by far the greatest demand on the Housing Needs Service.

As of 18 November, there are 158 households in Temporary Accommodation of which 128 are single homeless households.

Q5 – What support do rough sleepers get?

Julian House engages with rough sleepers across Exeter on the Council’s behalf. This is achieved through early morning outreach and holding accommodation surgeries at Colab. The pandemic has led to all services being delivered in different ways but the Outreach service has continued to work throughout lockdown. Outreach provide the initial response, engaging with people where they are bedded down on the streets.

They provide vital welfare checks, engage with healthcare services and work with rough sleepers to identify short and long-term housing solutions. Throughout the pandemic, St Petrock’s, The Exeter Food Network, CoLab Exeter and other voluntary services have worked tirelessly to ensure that rough sleepers have access to provisions and free food as well as other support.

Q6 – How much does it cost to come into hostels or supported housing in Exeter?

There is no upfront cost to access any emergency housing, supported housing or the night shelter in Exeter. Each household will be supported to make appropriate benefit claims and to claim for housing benefit to pay towards the rent.

There is a small service charge (also known as non-eligible housing benefit) for each resident. This varies in cost across the projects and is often a contribution towards heating, lighting and the cleaning of communal areas.

For example, at one project the weekly service charge is £14.37. Service charges also help residents to learn how to budget, as they will be expected to pay towards utilities when living independently.

Q7 – Why isn’t the night shelter open?

It is but unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the Council is not able to use the night shelter in the same way as it has been used in the past.

The possible risk of transmission within shared sleeping spaces is too great and has resulted in a reduction of 25 bedspaces.

Q8 – What plans do you have to support rough sleepers during the winter months?

The council is working with providers to identify other short-term accommodation options for rough sleepers.

This includes identifying further funding to ensure the Council has an appropriate offer to last until the end of March, at the earliest, when it hopes new properties will come on line.

Q9 – How can I help?

People can report rough sleepers in their community through StreetLink, using either the website or mobile app. Those who cannot access the internet can also get in touch by calling 0300 500 0914. Julian House provide regular outreach throughout the week and reports will go directly to their team to investigate and provide support as soon as possible.

Julian House has good intelligence about who is rough sleeping within the city centre and is very keen to hear about anyone who is bedded down further out from the city centre.

Please visit Exeter Homeless Partnership to find out more about how to get involved in helping to end homelessness in Exeter.