South Kesteven: some people 'choosing to sleep rough despite having homes’, council told
Housing officers say rough sleeping remains a “hugely complex issue” as outreach teams report people refusing help or not using their accommodation
Some people in South Kesteven are sleeping rough despite having a place to live, councillors have been told.
Members of South Kesteven District Council’s housing overview and scrutiny committee heard that outreach teams are encountering individuals who have tenancies but are still choosing to sleep on the streets.
At Thursday’s meeting, housing options manager Sarah McQueen said the team had met a man earlier that day who has a tenancy but was sleeping rough instead.
“There are incidents where we know of people who do actually have a tenancy and are housed, but then choose to sleep rough,” she told councillors. “An example of that was today. There was a gentleman we found and we went to speak to him. That person does have a property but has chosen to not live there at the moment.”
Coun Charmaine Morgan said residents often assume the council is not acting when they see tents in public spaces, such as the Paddock in Grantham.
“You have also got people who just won’t engage with the council,” she said. “People see that and think we’re not doing anything"
Ms McQueen stressed that rough sleeping is a “hugely complex issue” with no single solution, noting that some people have “complex needs” and rely on support networks that may not exist for them at home.
She added that the outreach team works through the night to make contact with rough sleepers and offer support. For those without a phone, the team provides basic handsets to help maintain contact.
“It’s difficult because we understand that even when the outreach team are out and about, people simply do not want to engage with them,” she said. “We do try our best.”
Research nationally shows that small numbers of rough sleepers may avoid their accommodation due to trauma, mental health issues or feeling unsafe - factors that councils say require long-term, personalised support rather than quick fixes.