Partnership helping rough sleepers

Dec 30 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

COUNCIL bosses yesterday pledged to ensure no one is left out in the cold – with a potentially bitter January looming.

Staff at Perth and Kinross Council’s homelessness service are busy working with agencies to help those who could find themselves sleeping rough when temperatures inevitably start to plummet again following the extended mild spell.

The local authority area traditionally has a minimal number of rough sleepers – as low one or two at any given time – but the council wants to ensure that no-one feels they have no other option this winter.

Services and advice are available to anyone facing homelessness, and no-one without accommodation will be turned away as temperatures plunge.

The council works alongside Perth charity Churches Action for the Homeless (CATH) to monitor rough sleepers and to ensure that they get help to find accommodation.

And the Street Pastors service also highlights any homelessness issues discovered by its volunteers on regular city centre patrols.

Housing and health convener Peter Barrett said: “To have any people sleeping rough on our streets in this day and age is unacceptable.

“No-one should have to endure such hardship. Sleeping rough in winter poses an obvious risk to the health and lives of homeless people, given the sub-zero temperatures we have experienced in the last few years.

“Homelessness is not a problem that is exclusive to a particular type of person or strata of society.

“Anyone can find themselves homeless for a number of different reasons, whether they be financial, or because of family breakdown or illness.

“We have a homelessness service here in Perth and Kinross that was recently named as among the best in Scotland by independent inspectors, and I would appeal to anyone who find themselves facing accommodation problems this winter to make themselves known to the council as soon as they can.

“We don’t want anyone ending up on the streets. Anyone who does end up sleeping rough will never be turned away to face a cold night sleeping outdoors if they ask for help.

“The council and our partner agency CATH have emergency accommodation on hand to provide a roof over people’s heads in such circumstances.

“The council’s Greyfriars Hostel in Princes Street is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“In addition, CATH House has emergency accommodation at York Place and also runs a day centre where people can get out of the cold.

“We are determined that this area should have no rough sleepers – especially during the cold winter months.

“Help is available and I would urge people to use it. We will also do our best to find a longer-term solution to people’s accommodation needs if they find themselves in emergency accommodation.”

The council’s emergency homelessness service can be contacted on 0800 917 0708. Accommodation advice is also available at the housing advice centre at 10-16 York Place, Perth.