The Routes Home EEA Reconnections Good Practice Guide is a practical tool for all agencies involved in supporting European Economic Area (EEA) migrants who are rough sleeping to make positive changes and find healthier, long term solutions away from the street. EEA nationals who become homeless may be without recourse to public funds and unable to access the accommodation and support they need.
The Good Practice Guide is based on direct experience and many years of supporting people to leave the streets and contains practical tips and suggestions to help our partners in London and beyond.
The resource is intended to support agencies to develop a person-centred approach and to provide a platform of resources to help allow people to make informed choices about staying in the UK or returning to a country where they have prior connections.
A ‘route home’ can mean different things for different people. Due to the harmful and dangerous impact that rough sleeping has, it is important to access the safest, quickest and most sustainable route off the streets; enabling people to access services, seek treatment or return to family. This guide provides information on how to assess the options of EEA nationals in the UK, including information on the EU Settlement Scheme and access to benefits and housing support. The sections outlining good practice in relation to reconnections focus on international reconnections. This guide does not provide guidance on UK reconnections. Where people have options in the UK, teams should approach this in the same was as they would for people who are UK nationals.
In London, agencies can refer EEA nationals with high or complex support needs to the Routes Home Service for specialist assessment and reconnection support. This guidance aims to equip our partner services to support people with lower support needs in carrying out assessment and motivational work to help people to move away from homelessness. It is also intended to be of use to agencies outside London, particularly in areas where currently there are no specialist services for EEA nationals.
There are a range of alternative resources available to guide work supporting people from non-EEA countries who are on the streets.
