Adopt 'No Second Night Out' to help end rough sleeping

12 October 2011

Charity calls on every council to adopt the 'No Second Night Out' standard.

The umbrella body for homelessness charities, Homeless Link, today called on every local authority to adopt 'No Second Night Out', an approach that makes sure new rough sleepers get help quickly so they don't spend a second night out.

Speaking at the 'No Second Night Out' conference in London, Jenny Edwards CBE, Chief Executive of Homeless Link, said:

"Every night, someone sleeps rough for the first time. The longer they stay out, the worse their problems can get and the harder they can be to overcome.

"No Second Night Out is a simple standard. It means putting the right services in place to so no one spends more than a single night on the streets.

"In London, where the idea has been pioneered, it has already led to a dramatic fall in the number of new rough sleepers being seen on the streets again. Early findings shows the initiative to be nearly six times more successful at getting people into accommodation"

"Many local authorities are already taking up the challenge but, if we are to stop people living on our streets, every council needs to sign-up."

In their strategy: 'Vision for ending rough sleeping: No Second Night Out', launched in July, the Government called on every local authority to adopt the 'No Second Night Out' standard, working in partnership with charities, statutory services and the public.

The standard is based on having the right services in place, so that:

• New rough sleepers can be identified and helped off the streets immediately;
  The public can alert services if they see anyone sleeping rough so they get help;
• Rough sleepers can go to a place of safety, where their needs can be assessed and they can get help;
• Rough sleepers are able to get emergency accommodation and other services they need; and
• Rough sleepers from outside an area can be reconnected with their community, where they can be near family and friends, and can get housing and support.

No Second Night Out (NSNO) has been piloted in nine central London boroughs since April 2011 as part of the Mayor's strategy to end rough sleeping.

Early findings suggest that in the first three months of the pilot:

• A third of new rough sleepers identified where referred to NSNO;
• Around 70% of these were assisted to find accommodation. Compared to 12% of those who did not go to NSNO; and
• Fewer than one in ten of those found accommodation by NSNO was seen sleeping rough again within the next month.

How each area adopts the No Second Night Out standard will be different but Homeless Link has published guidance to help local councils and homelessness agencies.

Visit: www.homeless.org.uk/effective-action

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