The Routes Home Service is a service supporting non-UK nationals sleeping rough in London which started in April 2016.
The service is run by charity and housing association St Mungo’s and commissioned by the Greater London Authority.
St Mungo’s believe rough sleeping is harmful and dangerous. The aim of ending rough sleeping across the capital is at the heart of our organisation and part of our organisational vision. As about half of all people currently sleeping rough in the capital are from outside of the UK, providing good quality support to this group will be key to achieving this aim.
Since April 2016, Routes Home has consistently offered a range of services.
Our dedicated Assessment and Reconnections workers aim to support EEA nationals sleeping rough in London who have need of specialist support, to explore their options away from the street including access to services in the UK and their country of origin. Referrals for this service can be made by a number of services who come into contact with people who are sleeping rough in London, including street outreach teams and No Second Night Out.
If referrals received do not meet our referral criteria of direct assessment and reconnection support but are related to people who are currently rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping, we offer expert advice and signposting to referring agencies so they can better support the person to explore their options in the UK and abroad.
Recently, we have expanded our offer to include access to immigration advice for EEA nationals sleeping rough or at risk of rough sleeping who require immigration advice to explore their options under the EU Settlement Scheme. The immigration advice will be provided by qualified OISC registered immigration advisers and solicitors through partnership arrangement.
In addition, Routes Home offers support to non-EEA nationals who require legal advice to resolve their immigration status, through our Resolution List service. Referrals for this service can be made by outreach teams. The immigration advice is provided by qualified immigration advisers through a subcontracting arrangement with an OISC registered provider.