Concerns surrounding who to contact about rough sleepers in Frome have led to local group, Fair housing for Frome, placing information signs on all town notice boards. Details on how to contact StreetLink were secured to each board in cooperation with Frome Town Council.
StreetLink exists to help end rough sleeping by enabling members of the public to connect people sleeping rough with the local services that can help and support them.
If you are concerned about someone over the age of 18 that you have seen sleeping rough you can use the StreetLink website www.streetlink.org.uk or call 0300 500 0914.
StreetLink respond by notifying Elim Connect the local outreach service in Mendip. Elim have a member of staff who covers Frome, locates the rough sleeper and offers available support. It’s worth noting that this service doesn’t cover rough sleepers who are under 18 and all organisations involved recommend that the police be contacted in those situations.
Fair Housing for Frome development worker Steve Tanner said, “Local organisations are seeing an increase in questions from people worried about rough sleepers in Frome so arranging for these signs to be installed and working along side Elim Connect has to be a good move. Just calling the number on the StreetLink signs triggers a response from the Elim team who are trained and able to help.”
The timing of new StreetLink signs is appropriate with Elim Connect and Fair Housing for Frome finalising plans for a Zero Nights shelter in the town ahead of the colder months.
For more details on Fair Housing for Frome go to https://fairhousingforfrome.org.uk and to read more about Elim Connect go to www.connect-centre.org.uk/
