New partnership team supports Chelmsford rough sleepers

A new service that aims to improve the quality of life for rough sleepers is now operating across Chelmsford and Maldon.

The Chelmsford and Maldon Changing Futures Rough Sleepers Initiative is a partnership service involving Chelmsford City Council, Maldon District Council, Essex County Council and Essex Partnership University Trust (EPUT).

Wraparound care and Mental Health Navigators are now part of teams delivering interventions that support rough sleepers to improve their health and wellbeing and move towards securing accommodation. The partnership aims to provide wraparound health and social care support to help anyone sleeping rough to get back on their feet. Similar Rough Sleeper Initiatives operate in Braintree, Epping and Southend.

Councillor Stephen Robinson, Lib Dem Leader of Chelmsford City Council, says the initiative will bring vital assistance to those in need: "Providing timely mental health support and improving access to services have a key role to play in stopping the cycle of homelessness. Mental health problems are often a contributing factor in causing homelessness. They can make dealing with rough sleeping even more difficult, and in turn, the huge strain homelessness puts on people often causes a big deterioration in mental wellbeing.

"This new provision is a real step forward in creating a more holistic service, working alongside the city's existing Housing Navigators to improve the lives of those who need it most."

Connecting rough sleepers with local services

If you are concerned that someone appears to be sleeping rough, please make a referral by using StreetLink. When you send an alert through Streetlink or via Street Support, an outreach worker will check on the person's welfare.

If you are, or might soon be homeless yourself, please contact Chelmsford City Council as soon as possible.  

Essex Housing Awards recognition

Last November, The Mid Essex Rough Sleeper Initiative Outreach Service received a 'Working In Partnership' award at the 2022 Essex Housing Awards, which promote best practice across the county. The award recognises organisations that have been most proactive working in partnership to deliver a service or scheme.

The project was started in 2019 by Chelmsford City Council and Maldon District Council, working in partnership with CHESS, and has since grown to include Essex County Council and a number of other districts.