Home for tonight, hope for tomorrow
"Home for tonight, hope for tomorrow" is a campaign in which businesses are invited to sponsor a temporary accommodation pod by donating money which will be used to contribute towards the costs associated with buying and kitting out the temporary accommodation pods which house rough sleepers, based in Barnstaple.
Temporary accommodation pods
Temporary pods are one of the accommodation solutions that are used as a first step to recovery from rough sleeping by assisting those most in need in our local community. The pods have a direct and positive impact on client’s lives while also providing them a safe refuge. This not only gives clients a valuable breathing space but also allows them the vital time and space that they need to focus on their journey of recovery, with the assistance of the Rough Sleeper team.
The pods were bought using one-off external funding. Currently there are four outdoor and four indoor pods, which provide a warm and secure shelter for people without a place to sleep. They are a temporary solution, which offer a gateway into expert support and more permanent accommodation in the future.
Unfortunately, the funding associated with the pods does not cover the day-to-day running costs, only staff time. Provision of these pods is non-statutory, which means we are not obliged by law to offer the service. However, having seen the life-changing impact of the pods on so many lives, we plan to keep them running for as long as we can… but we need help.
The Enhanced Rough Sleeper team
Council officers and support staff from a variety of agencies including Freedom Community Alliance, Human Kind, M5 Security and Facilities Management, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Barnstaple Alliance Primary Care Network work closely with a dedicated team of rough sleeping support workers to provide the Enhanced Rough Sleeper Service.
The services provided include health care, housing, financial support, behavioural management specialists and signposting to further services as required.
How can you help?
The Enhanced Rough Sleeper Service is inviting businesses to get involved in this project by sponsoring a pod. It costs £12,000 a year to buy and fully kit out a pod for a person in need. If you choose to contribute towards this cost, you will be providing accommodation and life’s basic needs to some of the most vulnerable people in our local community. In addition to this, you will be helping to raise awareness of this issue on our doorstep and directly reduce the number of people who are rough sleeping in North Devon.
By becoming a sponsor you will have a unique opportunity to directly improve people’s lives. We will publicly credit your role as a sponsor and provide regular updates, allowing you to see how your support not only helps provide a home for tonight, but also offers hope for tomorrow.
Would you like to find out more? Email our Service Lead for Housing, Vulnerable Persons and Community Safety, at natasha.rowland@northdevon.gov.uk.