Help for rough sleepers

How to help someone rough sleeping

If you know someone might be sleeping rough in North Yorkshire or you are at risk yourself, please contact us.

StreetLink

You can also report someone sleeping rough in the area using the Streetlink website. When you make a report to StreetLink, this will be passed directly onto our Outreach team so its easier for them to find rough sleepers and offer support.

To help identify the person, StreetLink will ask for:

the exact location, including any identifying details of the area
the time when the person was seen

If you submit a report and choose to receive updates, StreetLink will send you a response within 10 working days.

Information, advice and support we can offer

We offer a full housing assessment and provide advice about the different housing options that are available to rough sleepers. This could include:

emergency accommodation
supported housing
hostels
social housing
private renting

We may also help someone to move back to an area where they have a local connection.

We work with several partner organisations to make sure anyone sleeping rough can access full support.

Rough sleeper prevention pathway

The rough sleeper prevention pathway makes sure no one spends a second night sleeping rough. We do this by:

helping rough sleepers off the streets quickly, and finding them a safe place so we can then understand what their needs are and offer them better options
helping them to access emergency accommodation and healthcare
reconnecting rough sleepers to their home community where appropriate and safe to do so

We aim to assess and find suitable accommodation quickly. Sometimes, the accommodation may be outside of the area, depending on their needs, local connection, support network and the availability of accommodation.

Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP)

Overnight emergency accommodation will be provided to all rough sleepers in North Yorkshire during long periods of severe weather, such as:

three continuous nights, or more, where the lowest temperature is zero degrees Celsius or lower
high winds
excessive rain
a heatwave

This is to prevent loss of life or serious harm to someone’s health.

When the protocol is activated, the usual rules to determine access to accommodation do not apply, and all rough sleepers will be considered. This includes those who have previously been excluded from accessing services, and/or those with no recourse to public funds which means those not eligible for most benefits or housing assistance.

Once activated the protocol is reviewed on a daily basis until the weather forecast shows at least two or more continuous nights with temperatures of one degree Celsius or above.

Support services by area

Rough sleepers in the Craven area

Holy Trinity Church

The Holy Trinity Church in Skipton offers a warm space with free hot drinks and biscuits.

Horton Housing - Pinder House

offers 10 units of supported temporary accommodation in Pinder House in Skipton for those who have been rough sleeping or excluded from mainstream housing. This accommodation can only be accessed following a referral
also provides self-contained units across the community, each supported by a floating support package
contains the Craven Homeless Hub - providing daytime support, group activities and a daily drop‑in for rough sleepers and people in housing need

For further details visit the Horton Housing website.

All referrals are to be made through the council’s rough sleeper team.

Quaker Meeting House

The Quaker Meeting House in Settle offers a number of services, such as a ‘Public Living Room’ warm space, a free-to-use shower, and a ‘community fridge’ offering free food to those in need.

Settle Parish Church

Settle Parish Church offers a ‘Pop-up Pantry’ food bank service, with 24/7 access. No referral or registration is required.

Skipton Community Wellbeing Café

A welcoming community café offering free refreshments such as tea, coffee, cakes, biscuits and fruit, alongside pay-as-you-feel hot food. Visit the Skipton Community Wellbeing Café Facebook site for details.

Step Into Action Wellbeing Café

This community centre in Skipton offers a variety of different services, including a drop-in café. Visit the Skipton Step Into Action website for details.

The Place

The Place is a community centre in Settle providing a variety of services in the community, including a ‘Wellbeing Café’ with hot food and a warm space.

Rough sleepers in the Hambleton area

Community Works

Community Works in Thirsk provides a variety of support including a food bank service.

Crutch Outreach

Based out of a church in Northallerton, Crutch Outreach offers several community services such as a clothes bank, breakfast clubs and food parcels.

Easingwold District Community Care Association

Easingwold District Community Care Association provides a food share service (free food at the Galtres Centre) and a food bank.

Family Life Church

Based in Thirsk, the Family Life Church provides a warm space and hot soup for those in need.

UpFront

UpFront in Northallerton, run by Hambleton Community Action, provides a welcoming community space that offers a warm space with free refreshments, daily activities and learning opportunities, digital support and a friendly place to chat.

Rough sleepers in the Harrogate area

Harrogate Clothes Bank

This clothes bank in Harrogate offers free second hand clothes for those in need. No referral is required.

Harrogate District Foodbank

Foodbanks are located in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Starbeck. Those who are referred to this service can exchange their vouchers for three days of emergency food. For details visit the Harrogate District Foodbank website.

Harrogate Homeless Project

Harrogate Homeless Project's Springboard day centre offers support to single homeless people by providing food, showers, laundry facilities, skills workshops and access to a GP.

The charity also offers five emergency bunk beds, and 16 single rooms with each resident supported by a dedicated worker. For those needing semi-independent accommodation, the charity manages a three bedroomed house and eight self-contained flats.

Harrogate Stay Well

Temporary accommodation is provided by Harrogate Stay Well for those adults experiencing mental health and housing issues.

Lifeline Harrogate

A charity providing accommodation and support for those previously homeless and now moving towards independent living. Visit the Lifeline Harrogate website for details.

Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM)

An initiative running in Harrogate that brings together a group of services including housing, public health, adult social care, drug and alcohol support, and NHS mental health services. The group also works with the police, probation, community safety, Connected Spaces, IDAS, Yorsexual Health, and the Harrogate Homeless Project.

The aim of Making Every Adult Matter is to reduce the duplication of work between services, and help people who are experiencing multiple issues by improving their access to health services and engaging with them about the options available to them.

Ripon YMCA

A youth community organisation that offers affordable housing and youth support work. For details visit Ripon's YMCA website.

St Peter's Church

St Peter's Church in Harrogate offers free hot breakfasts from Monday to Saturday, 8.20am to 8.45am. There is also a mini supermarket foodbank for those in need.

Rough sleepers in the Richmondshire area

Colburn Community Cafe

A not-for-profit community cafe, based in Colburn Village Hall. The cafe provides a warm, friendly space and serves hot, home-cooked food.

Influence Church

A foodbank service is available from the Influence Church in Richmond.

The Beacon

The Beacon in Catterick Garrison offers supported housing to single veterans who are homeless or are at risk of being made homeless, and who have support needs. Accommodation can be provided for up to 18 months.

Rough sleepers in the Ryedale area

Next Steps Ryedale

Supporting people with mental health difficulties, wellbeing issues and loneliness, Next Steps Ryedale has centres in Malton, Pickering and Kirkbymoorside. Offering a range of activities, as well as a drop-in community cafe and clothes bank.

Ryedale Community Foodbank

Providing emergency food and essential household items to people in need. Ryedale Community Foodbank has centres in Kirkbymoorside, Norton, and Pickering. They also provide advice for those who require longer term support.

Ryedale YMCA

A youth community organisation based in Malton that offers affordable housing and youth support work. For details visit Ryedale's YMCA website.

Rough sleepers in the Selby area

Sleepsafe Selby

This charity provides warm, safe accommodation for up to six rough sleepers. Sleepsafe Selby also supports people with learning life skills to increase their chances of having a successful tenancy once permanent accommodation is found.

Referrals can be made through the council or by visiting the Sleepsafe Selby website.

Rough sleepers in the Scarborough area

Community Shop Eastfield

A community store in Eastfield providing reduced priced food and family meals. For details visit the Company Shop website.

REACH Scarborough

REACH Scarborough (a Housing First project) provides flexible support to people experiencing rough sleeping and long-term homelessness across the Scarborough area. It prioritises fast access to reliable housing, alongside supporting people to sustain their tenancies and improve their health, wellbeing and independence.

REACH works in partnership with local housing providers, health services including mental health nurses and a psychologist, and community organisations to address complex needs such as mental health, substance use and social isolation, ensuring support is led by the choices of each individual.

All referrals for REACH Scarborough are made via the council's Housing Options team. Housing First placements are considered once existing options and support have been assessed by the team via a statutory homelessness assessment.

Scarborough Salvation Army

The Salvation Army provide support for people who are homeless or sleeping rough. They run a six week 'Victory Programme' in Scarborough that teaches those facing homelessness simple, low-cost cooking skills.

Scarborough Survivors

A mental health and wellbeing centre providing drop-in support, including a night time 'Crisis Cafe'. Visit the Scarborough Survivors website for details.

Westborough Methodist Church

Westborough Methodist Church provides a food bank service and warm food on Saturday mornings.

Westway Open Arms

A community centre located in Eastfield that offers a food bank and various activities to help those in need. Visit the Westway Open Arms website for details.

Whitby Foodbank

Foodbank4Whitby and district offers food parcels for those in need. The charity offers a delivery service for those who are unable to visit the centre.