Container: Used Needles Disposal Kit

Plastic

Paper

From: 'Hackney during the pandemic'

Everyone In - Housing Rough Sleepers during the Pandemic

One of the greatest challenges during the pandemic has been providing supported accommodation for rough sleepers.
With the country going into lockdown, it was essential to provide safe and secure accommodation to some of the people most vulnerable to the risks of COVID-19.

In March 2020 Hackney Council’s Rough Sleeping Team started to block book hotel rooms throughout the borough to house over 170 people sleeping rough, or in a night shelter, safely.

Rough sleeping however cannot be solved by just providing accommodation. Therefore additional support such as security, food, clothing, drug and alcohol support, and healthcare is required.

“Housing rough sleepers is a complex process involving reaching out, building trust and understanding each individual’s situation – be it trauma, addiction, mental ill health, or a combination of these.”
Cllr Rebecca Rennison, Cabinet Member for Finance, Housing Needs and Supply, April 2020

“If we just put people in unsupported accommodation, they’ll be back on the streets in six months' time.”
Cllr Rebecca Rennison, Cabinet Member for Finance, Housing Needs and Supply, December 2020


Despite the many challenges, and lack of government funding, the pandemic has given the rough sleeping team the opportunity to help rough sleepers to improve their lives in the long term.

By late 2020 the council’s rough sleeping team moved to an ‘In For Good’ approach, and were trying to support over 170 rough sleepers into longer term housing.

“One of the positive outcomes has been seeing some of our longest standing rough sleepers accept help and support.”
Cllr Rebecca Rennison, Cabinet Member for Finance, Housing Needs and Supply

“It is really easy to whittle this down to numbers, but there are human stories here of people who have had really difficult lives who came in and we were able to do some really meaningful work with….
“When I think back to what we have done for people to give them that sense of self-respect back that they can do and be things that are more than they could see within themselves, I think as a borough we should all feel proud that this is what we did.”
Sabrina Pathan, Rough Sleeping Manager

From: 'Hackney during the pandemic'

‘Do The Right Thing’ Needle Exchange Container

This container is for safely disposing of used needles at the hotel.
A methadone prescribing nurse visits weekly to help support resident’s coming off heroin.

‘Substance misuse is a big part of the hotel, the majority of residents have a substance misuse issue either around drugs or alcohol or both – I wouldn’t say the object represents the support provided, just more the contrast between what the hotel was before it became a hotel for rough sleepers.’
Zoe Gilchrist, Team Manager, SHP - Hackney Accommodation Services (at hotel for rough sleepers)