Rough Sleeping Core Contracts

This project aims to provide specialist services to support people rough sleeping in Tower Hamlets. Rough sleeping remains a complex social challenge within Tower Hamlets, across London and indeed nationally. Available data indicates figures will continue to rise locally, with demand for services meaning people spend longer on the streets.

This increases risks of harm to individuals and communities through anti-social behavior, complex safeguarding concerns, public health matters and violence. It is therefore essential to have responsive, assertive and professional support services which are strategically aligned with the borough's aim to make rough sleeping rare, brief and non-recurrent, as outlined in the new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024-29. These services will lead the efforts to drive down rough sleeping and ensure people do not return to the streets once accommodated.

Specifically, this project will provide two primary services - a street outreach team and a resource centre. These services are currently contracted under two separate contracts: the Enhanced Rough Sleeping Outreach Service (P5719) and Resource Centre Contract (P5670) which are both due to reach the end of their extensions on March 31st 2026. These services are seen as essential for the borough.

Street Outreach provides a shift-based service which can immediately respond to reports of people rough sleeping, link in with people needing support, and help to find housing solutions and links to other relevant services. The Resource Centre provides a safe and inclusive building-based service where people rough sleeping can access essential services such as showers and food, as well as holistic support for mental and physical health, substance use, and housing advice. Additional specialist services are provided using grant funding from central government.

The borough intends to establish a multi-supplier framework with lots for these essential services. This will allow for services to be procured quickly and effectively and enable the borough to utilize additional grant income that may become available from central government. Potential suppliers will be engaged to develop interest and shape the market accordingly.

Contract length is set at 3 years and extensions of 12 months pus 12 months to allow for testing the multi-supplier framework approach, give stability to service provision, and to align with the duration of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024-29.