Street homeless people over winter months

Reporting the homeless

If you come across someone you believe may be homeless and in need of help, please advise them to go to our Customer Service Centre on Danestrete or to call 01438 242242.

After contact has been made, a caseworker from our Housing Options team will assess their housing needs and complete a referral form which could be to Haven First  They operate on a referral basis and will take people of any age. 

Clients will have access to shared bathroom facilities, and a laundry and will be given a hot evening meal.

Details of any 18 to 25-year-olds who need a hostel referral will be sent to Catalyst Housing Limited which runs the young person’s projects within the town. They have projects in Ripon Road, Marymead Drive and Hutton House and will place applicants according to their needs.

Outside office hours (evenings, weekends and public holidays)
Any person that will be roofless that evening should contact Stevenage Borough Councils Out of Hours service on 01438 314963. Haven First operates the Cold Weather Provision during the coldest months (usually between November and March) when the weather is at its worst. This will be available on a night-by-night and first-come, first-served basis. This service remains temporary in nature. Anyone taken in under the Cold Weather Provision will be given access to the facilities of the Haven, but will not be able to remain at the site during the day.

Stevenage Borough Council does operate a Severe Weather Emergency Protocol when the weather is severe enough to warrant the activation and the council will then run its own Cold Weather Provision temporarily on a night-by-night basis while severe weather persists. Anyone experiencing rough sleeping when the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol is active should contact the council at the earliest opportunity to enquire about accessing the Cold Weather Provision. This can be done by calling the customer service centre on 01462 242242, attending the customer service centre in person at Daneshill House, Stevenage SG1 1HN or if outside of business hours by calling the Out of Hours service on 01438 314963.

Further advice and assistance can be sought from the following organisations:

HertsHelp

HertsHelp administers the Hertfordshire Welfare Assistance Scheme, providing help and advice to people in crisis and facing exceptional and unexpected pressures. If you qualify for assistance you may be given a travel voucher to help with fares, vouchers for food banks or clothing banks.

Herts Young Homeless

Herts Young Homeless (hyh) services are open to all 16 to 24-year-olds through the homeless hub

YMCA

The YMCA hostel in Welwyn Garden City provides a home and support for local people who might otherwise be homeless. Each resident is allocated a key worker and, together they will create a support plan which is tailored to the needs and aspirations of the resident to support them to move into independent accommodation. Each resident has a bedroom and breakfast and evening meal is provided each day. Residents may have the opportunity to progress into self-catered accommodation within the hostel, provided they satisfy relevant criteria and subject to availability.

Referral to the YMCA can be made through the Housing Options team.

Open Door, St Albans

The Open Door Homelessness Service is a night shelter and daytime drop-in for vulnerable people in St Albans. The Service regularly gives accommodation to up to 12 people each night and provides them with a hot meal. The drop-in offers support and advice on housing and health issues.