Help end rough sleeping in London
Shocking numbers of people are sleeping rough in London; sleeping outdoors, in shop doorways, parks or other places not meant for habitation.
If you see someone sleeping rough, the fastest way to get them help is to report it through Streetlink.
If there’s an emergency, always call 999.
How to report a rough sleeper
The best way to help someone sleeping rough is to make an alert through Streetlink. Streetlink is a centralised system which ensures the information about a person sleeping rough is passed to the correct local outreach teams who can then find the individual and offer support.
If you are currently sleeping rough you can also use the StreetLink website or call 0300 500 0914 to raise an alert.
What happens after you report?
When you make a Streetlink alert, the following happens:
- Alert: Streetlink alerts the relevant local outreach team.
- Outreach: The outreach team will try to find the person you reported. Our outreach teams go out late at night and early in the morning.
- Support: If the team finds the person, they will offer support, including help with finding accommodation, accessing healthcare and connecting with other services.
SPEAR's role in ending rough sleeping
SPEAR’s outreach teams operate in the London boroughs of Richmond, Kingston and Wandsworth, working to connect rough sleepers with housing and support services. We provide:
- Rough sleeper outreach: Our teams actively seek out people sleeping rough, building trust and offering immediate assistance.
- Accommodation: We provide tailored accommodation to help people rough sleeping off the streets.
- Support services: We offer a range of support services, including help with finding employment, accessing healthcare, and addressing mental health and addiction issues.
Who SPEAR helps
SPEAR works with adults sleeping rough in Richmond, Kingston and Wandsworth. Many people sleeping rough have complex backgrounds, SPEAR helps them to rebuild their lives and find a route out of homelessness.
Please note: If you are concerned about someone outside of these boroughs, Streetlink will ensure the alert is passed to the relevant local authority.
Igor’s story
What if someone is sofa surfing or insecurely housed?
If you are concerned about someone who is sofa surfing (staying temporarily with friends or family) or insecurely housed, they should contact their local council for housing assistance.
Data Protection
SPEAR is committed to protecting our client’s privacy. Without signed consent from a client, we cannot discuss specific cases with you.
We appreciate this can be frustrating if you have seen a rough sleeper on a number of occasions. However, in many cases we will be aware of the rough sleeper, and will have offered support. Some individuals have complex backgrounds, and it can take time, patience and trust for an individual to accept the support that is available to them.
Contact us
If you have any questions about our rough sleeper outreach work, please contact us:
