more than words October 2013 | Page 22

No Second Night Out is a daring new programme that introduces a significant change in the way we respond to people who are rough sleeping.

Oxford City Council is committed to implementing No Second Night Out. This means that by the end of 2012 no rough sleeper will need to spend more than one night on the streets of Oxford.

We Will Provide...

•A rapid response to new and returning rough sleepers throughout the week

•A Single Service Offer of suitable accommodation and support for new and returning rough sleepers. This will be based on individual assessments and means that no one needs to spend a second night on the street.

•A focus on linking people who migrate into the City of Oxford back to accommodation and services where they have a local connection and where they are most likely to sustain a life away from the street.

This will be achieved by...

•A highly assertive outreach approach; facilitated by extended outreach coverage and backed up with enforcement actions by outreach workers and other services.

•Establishing a hotline to act as a single point of contact for alerting NSNO Oxford and Oxford City Outreach about rough sleepers.

•Setting up an assessment unit, where new and returning rough sleepers can receive rapid assessment of their needs and be made a Single Service Offer.

•Including reconnection in the Single Service Offer made to rough sleepers.

•Prioritising rough sleepers for accommodation/support within the Homeless Network in Oxford.

•Effective verification procedures for rough sleepers.

•More effective data recording and monitoring.

•Involving the public more fully in alerting us to rough sleeping.

•Encouraging public involvement with rough sleeping services.

Our vision is that by the end of 2012, no one will live on the streets of the City of Oxford and no individual arriving on the streets for the first time will sleep out for more than one night.

Help us to achieve this by telling us about anyone you think may be sleeping rough either by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or phoning 01865 304 611

Our pledges...

We will identify and help rough sleepers off the streets.

The public can alert services if they see anyone sleeping rough.

Rough sleepers can go to a place of safety where their needs can be assessed.

Rough sleepers can access services they need; rough sleepers from outside the area can be reconnected with their community and be near family and friends.