Good Morning

During my shift today we came across a tent, on church land in Luton, where a person is believed to be living. Upon inspection the tent was unoccupied however it was clear that someone had been living in the tent and was likely to return. We will keep returning to the tent until we make contact with the occupant. There is a range of help and support that we try to offer people finding themselves without a home.

As much as we want to support people that have fallen on hard times if we find these people begging or stealing we will deal with them robustly.

Help and support we can suggest are

·  Housing - Housing Options Service: Weekdays 8.30am to 5.15pm, on 01634 333 600, Out of hours service: 01634 304 400.

·  Food banks - View a full list of organisations and services offering food support in Medway.

·  social services  - Weekdays 9am to 5pm 01634 334 466

·  Alcohol and drug services -  Turning Point: Drug and Alcohol Service at 423 High Street, Chatham. Contact Turning Point on 0300 123 1560 Alcoholics Anonymous: in several locations. Contact Alcoholics Anonymous on 0800 917 7650.

Medway council also run a Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP). This is where if the temperature is below 0 degrees then the council provide rough sleepers with an inside area to sleep until it rises back over 0 degrees. 

Severe Weather Emergency Protocol | Severe Weather Emergency Protocol | Medway Council