Routes Home is a new service to support non-UK nationals that sleep rough in London.
In particular we work with those that are vulnerable, and not eligible to access services in the UK to assist in getting them off the streets. The service is run by St Mungo’s (www.mungos.org) and commissioned by the Greater London Authority. We believe rough sleeping is harmful and dangerous. The aim of ending rough sleeping across the capital is at the heart of our organisation and is our organisational vision. At present, over 50% of people sleeping rough in the capital are from outside of the UK.
Routes Home combines responsiveness, expert advice and knowledge and supported reconnection as well as building on existing good practice and expertise to support Non-UK nationals to find a way off of the street. The service enlists a full range of partners in the UK and in the home countries of rough sleepers who are referred to the service to help people make positive changes and find healthier, long-term solutions away from the street. Ultimately we believe that people can and do recover from homelessness.
Routes Home will work flexibly to respond to referrals from outreach teams, for Non-UK national rough sleepers, conducting assessments on the street or at agreed locations. Our staff are able to conduct assessments and formulate plans to resolve a client’s homelessness in the client’s own language with an expert and sensitive understanding of their cultural background as well as accommodation and support options available in their home country. The service operates seven days a week. The Routes Home team work closely with volunteers including trained mediators and peers to engage with clients as well as trained chaperones as additional support when clients need escorted travel.
