This page provides information about services available to rough sleepers and possible accommodation options when a person is ineligible for homelessness assistance.
See our information about homelessness eligibility to find out how immigration status affects entitlement to homelessness assistance.
When a person who has NRPF is rough sleeping, they may be able to access services provided to rough sleepers. Some councils may have rough sleeper outreach services, while other services will be available through the voluntary and community sector. This can include:
Some homeless shelters may provide bedspaces to ineligible individuals who cannot access housing benefit because of the NRPF condition. Homeless shelters may operate differently in each area, with some services delivered entirely via charities while others may be delivered as multi-agency partnerships between councils and voluntary and community sector organisations.
In exceptional cases, councils may be able to draw on funding to provide accommodation on a discretionary basis when no other statutory support is available. See our webpages to find out what powers and duties enable councils provide accommodation including powers that are not classed as public funds.
For more information on services which may provide advice or assistance to rough sleepers in each area, speak to the local authority. The following organisations may also provide more information on support for rough sleepers:
The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is an emergency homelessness response to extreme weather conditions, which local authorities may implement when temperatures are forecasted to fall below 0°c for three or more consecutive nights. This protocol aims to safeguard individuals from the risk of death or illness as a result of cold weather. When SWEP is in place, local authorities will provide a person who is rough sleeping with access to emergency accommodation, regardless of their eligibility for homelessness assistance.
When a person with no recourse to public funds is accommodated on an emergency basis, such as under SWEP, the council or accommodation provider should consider a move-on plan.
This will usually involve an assessment of the person’s individual circumstances and any move-on pathways will need to be identified. Before ending the provision of emergency accommodation, the person should be supported to access any available alternative accommodation. This includes establishing whether the local authority may have any statutory duties or powers to meet the person's housing needs and referring to adult social care or children’s social care for the relevant assessments. See our information on social care support for adults with NRPF and social care support for families with NRPF.
Other accommodation options may include:
Services will also need to establish a person's immigration status to ensure that any support entitlements and pathways are correctly identified. It is also likely that the person will need to be signposted to immigration advice. For example, when a person has no lawful status in the UK, it is important that they access immigration advice to understand what options may be available to them.
If a person has no onward immigration options and/or wishes to return to their country of origin, they may be able to access support with return from the Home Office’s voluntary returns service.
